Mario Theissen, motorsport boss of BMW Sauber, has revealed his team are hoping to close the gap to Ferrari and McLaren and take their first ever Formula One victory in 2008.
During the 2007 season, the F1.07 car propelled BMW to third position, and the team were continually finishing in the points just behind McLaren and Ferrari. BMW are hoping that over the winter, they can take the next step and catch the top two teams and start challenging for victories in 2008.
“Obviously that is what we are aiming for,†Theissen explained. “We want to win out first year and I hope that ultimately it will be more than just one victory. But we also know how difficult that will be because both Ferrari and McLaren-Mercedes have been at the top for many years now and they obviously have a head start in terms of experience. Getting one up on those teams will be a hard nut to crack!â€
However, Theissen knows that his team will also face pressure from other teams vying for position close rivals are expected to be Williams, Red Bull and Renault.
“Not only are our rivals far from standing still they are also under massive pressure,†Theissen continued. “That is why we need to deal with a situation where everyone is putting their foot down just as much as we are – Renault is the first that springs to mind on that score.
“In the closing races of this season, I also saw good form on display from Williams and Red Bull and so we need to keep our eyes on them too. As for Honda and Toyota, it is difficult to guess how things will go for them.â€
