Monday October 21st, 2002

German car makers BMW are considering their future in Formula One after their contract with British team Williams expires at the end of 2004.

BMW, who returned to Formula One in 2000 as engine suppliers for Williams, will decide this winter whether they will continue working with Williams after the 2004 season, BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen said today.

"The options are building our own Formula One car, continuing our collaboration with Williams in a more appropriate form or quitting Formula One," Theissen told German sports news agency SID.

Theissen said BMW would only continue working with Williams under revised conditions.

"We're too far behind Ferrari," he said after a season that saw Williams finish overall runners-up to the dominant Italian team with only one win - by Ralf Schumacher in Malaysia.

"We want to become World Champions by 2004," Theissen added. "Only with perfect collaboration in all areas - that includes the exchange of all data and the common use of computer simulations and research facilities - can we beat (Ferrari's World Champion) Michael Schumacher."

Published at 13:03:20 GMT