Despite the fact that the BMW WilliamsF1 team failed to finish the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday with both drivers forced to retire from a probable podium finish, Antonio Pizzonia with gear box problems and Juan Pablo Montoya with a blown Michelin tyre, the Grove based squad definitely showed some strong signs of improvement.
As our spies in Spa report, after a major redesign of the bodywork, the Grove based squad arrived at the Belgian track with bigger snorkels, integrated winglets and steeper flipups but there is more to this story than meets the eye. In fact, the eager output of the aero department demonstrates the pressure that Antonia Terzis’ team is working under and for more reasons than the obvious.
Recently rumours hit the news that Adrian Newey had been in discussions with team boss Sir Frank Williams and Patrick Head, rumours that were quickly denied and thought to be started by BAR as a way to deflect form other issues, however, this is not the case and the stories are more than just a rumour, they are indeed a fact.
Newey’s McLaren contract ends in June 2005 and he may just be looking for a way out, and he is not alone as colleague Mike Coughlan, has already offered his services to a new team that is looking to start in the 2006 Formula One season. Canadians with Russian origins want to test with a Dallara chassis next year and are already looking for staff in big adverts in the specialized magazines.
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