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F1- BMW Silverstone Qualifying

22 April 2000

British Grand Prix QUALIFYING
              22nd April 2000

Weather:  Overcast. Average temperature 15 C.

Jenson Button and Ralf Schumacher will start from 6th and 7th place
respectively for the 2000 British Grand Prix. Jenson today achieved his
best qualifying position of the season after losing the second free
practice session this morning. After coming off the track this morning
Jenson's FW22 was not ready in time for the reminder of the free
practice session.

Jenson Button
Chassis: FW22 04
Best Time: 1:26.733
Best Position: 6th

"It's very good to qualify in the top six, especially because my day has
been pretty terrible so far! I made a mistake this morning and ended
up in the gravel and Eddie Irvine ended up there too, damaging my
car. I must say thanks to the team for doing a good job as they
planned excellently.  We knew that it was going to be very difficult to
do a time at the end of the session but we were able to set the sixth
fastest. It's going to be quite an amazing feeling to start alongside
Michael Schumacher, tomorrow! "

Ralf Schumacher
Chassis: FW22 03
Best Time: 1:26:786
Best Position: 7th
    
"The seventh starting position is not so bad but I expected more,
especially under the circumstances with the changing weather and
track conditions. I always felt quite comfortable but I couldn't manage
to optimise on the last lap in an effort to achieve a better time which, I
am quite sure, could have been possible."

Frank Williams
"This result reflects on the excellence of all the members of the team
from the WilliamsF1 and BMW sides and well on the drivers. It's better
than we had hoped and one always hopes for miracles at your home
Grand Prix. We are looking forward to tomorrow, wet or dry."

Patrick Head (WilliamsF1 Technical Director)
"A very solid job for the team and a great recovery from Jenson given
the mistake he made this morning which unfortunately was
compounded further by Eddie Irvine hitting him and damaging the car
quite badly. For Ralf, it was a little bit disappointing because I am sure
like a number of people out there things didn't quite work out and he
gave up the first of his last two timed laps in order to get a clear run
for the second. He then overcooked it a bit on the second run. But it's
not a bad position to start a race from and we are looking forward to a
good race tomorrow."

Gerhard Berger (BMW Motorsport Director)
"With today's result we have reconfirmed the starting grid position we
set in Imola. Ralf couldn't exploit his capacities. Jenson's result is
great, particularly because he only managed four laps in this
morning's free practice. He then set better times lap after lap.
Furthermore, we are very pleased that we have set the second fastest
times on the straights. We are looking forward to racing tomorrow."