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Formula One: Malaysian GP race: BMW Williams F1 Team

23 October 2000

Malaysian Grand Prix - RACE
Sepang, 22nd October 2000

Weather: Overcast and humid.
Average air temperature 33°C. Average track temperature 35°C.

Disappointing last race of a very successful season for the BMW
WilliamsF1 Team, as neither of the drivers saw the chequered flag.
The team confirmed anyway its third position in the Constructors'
Championship with Ralf Schumacher retaining his fifth place in the
Drivers' series.

Ralf Schumacher 
    Position: DNF (out on lap 44 when 13th)
Chassis:
         FW22 06 
    Best Time:
    1:41.729 on lap 42 (15th)
"I am massively disappointed, as starting from the eighth position I
could have scored some points. My start was good even though my
car was quite heavy, because of our one-stop strategy. I lost seventh
place on lap one, when I was forced onto the grass when I was
alongside a Jaguar. I couldn't even think about chasing the cars in
front of me as I was suffering from big understeer. Even after the
pit-stop my car's behaviour was only slightly better.  When I was
called in by the radio, my race was definitely over."

Jenson Button 
    Position: DNF (out on lap 19 when 10th)
Chassis:
         FW22 04 
    Best Time:
    1:42.226 on lap 17 (17th)
"That definitely was not the way I wanted to end this season. The start
was good, I managed to jump from 16th to 10th position. It wasn't
looking too bad and with our strategy I think it could have worked out
very well. But suddenly I saw some smoke coming out from the back
of the car and the engine just died on the straight. This has been the
best year of my life. I say thanks to the BMW WilliamsF1 Team, they
have done a great job. It's a great pity to be leaving. Everyone in the
team has been excellent and I can't wait to come back in 2003."

Frank Williams
"Disappointing end of the season, but perhaps a gentle prod in the
direction of all the things we know we have to put right for next year
(as is always the case for every team)."

Dr Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director)
"This obviously isn't a fairy-tale end to a fantastic season.  We started
the race with high performance engines in both cars of the
specification introduced at Spa but unfortunately Jenson was stopped
by an engine failure, the cause of which we will only be able to know
in Munich. In Ralf's car there was a malfunction in the engine oil
supply system. In order to avoid an unnecessary failure we called him
in. We are disappointed now, of course, but I think that later in the
evening we will only feel the pleasure of having achieved the third
position in the Constructors' Championship in a more than positive
debut season."