Williams positive despite early exits

Williams are heading in the right direction despite the double retirement of their drivers at the Malaysian Grand Prix.

That is the view of technical director Sam Michael, who was upbeat about his team’s performance in Sepang and the week before in Bahrain.

Nico Rosberg, the 20-year-old rookie, set the fastest lap in Bahrain and qualified in third in Malaysia, while Mark Webber’s forceful driving had him harrying world champion Fernando Alonso’s Renault in the early stages of yesterday’s race, which was won by polesitter Giancarlo Fisichella in the other Renault.

But the Williams pair’s day was disappointingly curtailed by mechanical problems, although there was much for Michael to be heartened by in relation to the team’s competitiveness.

He said: “Our qualifying performance was good and we obviously could have finished solidly in the points. But we had a hydraulics failure on Mark’s car and an engine problem on Nico’s, so that was it.

“We couldn’t have fought with the Renaults and Jenson Button’s Honda, but I hope we would have been fighting with Montoya and in front of the Ferraris.

“I think it’s close between us, McLaren and Ferrari at the moment and it could swing any way depending on set-up and tyre choice at each circuit.

“I think it puts us ahead of where everyone thought we’d be at the start of the year. Bahrain was obviously an exception in terms of lap-time performance, but our target has always been to get the team back into the top three and that remains the same.

“We should be competitive in Melbourne, there is no reason why not, and we’ve got to make sure we make the right tyre choice in testing next week. Car, engine and drivers-wise, we should be fine. It’s not a technical circuit for Nico to learn.”

Rosberg, who has looked a real find for Williams so far, was philosophical after he retired with just seven laps gone.

“What happened was a shame because I was going quite well, even if I had wheelspin at the start and problems at the first corner, where I could have been a bit more aggressive,” he said.

“Just a few seconds before my engine gave up, I felt there was something wrong with it. It’s really unfortunate, but that’s the way it goes.”

Webber added: “The pace was good but you have to see the chequered flag. No-one is waiting for you this year, the competition is incredible.

“Hats off to Renault – they’ve done a superb job and they are showing everyone else how to do it and no-one can consistently chase them.”