Williams chief: we can still challenge for title

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Patrick Head insists Williams can challenge for the world championship this year as he hit back at critics of the team.

The Grove-based outfit are currently equal third in the constructors' standings with Renault but 29 points behind Ferrari who lead by just one point from McLaren.

Williams have secured just one podium finish this season with Juan Pablo Montoya's second place at the season opener in Australia with the FW25 having come in for criticism, including from engine partners BMW.

But Head warned: "We have been lucky in that we are only 29 points behind the championship leaders when you can score 18 in a single race.

"We don't consider ourselves out of the game.

"And when I see people say it will be a three-way fight between McLaren, Ferrari and Renault it just makes me smile.

"I suspect we will be players pretty soon.

"There is an overall acknowledgement that we started the season at a low level.

"But we've improved the car a lot since the beginning of the year and we are on quite a strong improvement slope."

Germany's Ralf Schumacher, however, has warned that it could be another two months before the team are ready to fight for victories.

The poor start, especially considering BMW are widely-considered to have the best engine in Formula One, has put a strain on relations between Williams and the German car giant.

The two companies are currently in talks about extending their partnership.

This partnership finishes at the end of the 2004 season.

Meantime Formula One minnows Minardi have been given a financial boost and a striking new livery after a backer increased their sponsorship.

Dutch computer technology company, Trust International, have become the team's main sponsor. Minardi include Dutchman Jos Verstappen in their driver line-up.

The deal involves a change of colour with the mainly black cars now featuring white side-pods, carrying the Trust name, from next week's Monaco Grand Prix.

"Michel Perridon's company was one of our first sponsors of 2003, and we are gratified that he and Trust are demonstrating a continuing commitment to our team with this announcement," said Minardi boss Paul Stoddart.

Minardi, who have British rookie Justin Wilson as their other driver, need the sponsorship boost as the deal with Russian energy giant Gazprom fell through recently.