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Formula One: BMW Williams F1 Monaco GP qualifying

4 June 2000

Monaco Grand Prix -- QUALIFYING
3rd June 2000

Weather: Sunny. Average temperature 27 C

Ralf Schumacher and Jenson Button will start from 9th and 14th
places respectively for the 2000 Monaco Grand Prix. Both the drivers
were prevented from achieving a better grid position by some
understeer and, as frequently happens on this track, by traffic on their
flying laps.
 
Ralf Schumacher 
    Position: 
    9th
Chassis:
         FW22 05
T-car:
              FW22 03
Fastest Lap:
         1:20.742
          
"I had hoped to be sixth, but unfortunately Eddie Irvine slowed me
down in my fourth and last trial. So I could only get ninth place.
Anyway, I am quite confident for tomorrow's race." 

Jenson Button 
    Position: 
    14th
Chassis:
         FW22 04
Fastest Lap:
         1.21.605
          
"It would have been a better qualifying, I think, if I could have
exploited my last flying lap but one Benetton went off at the
swimming pool chicane preventing me from having a clear lap. All
round it's not a bad place, considering that it is my first time here. I
wish I could start from a better grid position, but at the end of the day
I gained some more useful experience for the race." 

Patrick Head (Technical Director)
"Today we experienced some problems with slow speed corners. We
have made the car slightly better but it's still not good enough and we
had a pretty disappointing performance. Meanwhile we have got to
work to make sure the car is reliable for tomorrow."

Gerhard Berger (BMW Motorsport Director)
"We had expected something better.  We didn't exploit our potential,
actually. Ralf lost two flying laps because of Eddie Irvine, whereas
Jenson had to learn the typical lesson for a newcomer, which meant
that in the end he only had one clear lap, as other drivers were always
in his way.  In comparison to our other qualifying so far this season, it
has been more difficult for us to get closer to the top times. We must
try to see the chequered flag in tomorrow's race, so that we can
perhaps still get in the points."