Formula One news

Head hisses at BMW's Theissen

The F1 team he part-owns may have lost the works support of BMW, but Patrick Head wouldn't necessarily rather be in the shoes of Mario Theissen. Head, Williams' former long-time technical director and now HQ-based director of engineering, said Theissen - the likely 2006 BMW-Sauber principal - might have bitten off more than he can easily chew.

The pair are not the best of friends, with some suggesting that their acerbic relationship led to Theissen wanting to go it alone in 2006. Head told Reuters that Theissen apparently made some pretty bold 'promises' to BMW.

"As I understand it, he's told the board not only that he will arrange that the team is fully funded through sponsorship but also that they will win the championship in 2007. Well, good luck to you Mario," he said.

Patrick Head said he and Sir Frank Williams were reluctant to offer similar championship-promises to the BMW board.

2006 BMW driver Nick Heidfeld, who for most of this year steered a Williams, agrees with Head that next year - at least - will be hard going for the new works team. "We will be looking for the bigger results to come in 2007 and particularly in 2008," the German told Autosport. He added: "It's not just a question of spending a huge amount of money. I'm pretty sure BMW will want to avoid that."

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