Saturday January 8th, 2000

BMW motorsport boss Gerhard Berger on Saturday warned against expecting too much too soon from the link-up between engine maker BMW and Williams in the Formula One world championship.

"We'll have to deal with disappointments. No-one is going to do us any favours during our learning period and we'll need a thick skin," the former Ferrari driver told Welt am Sonntag newspaper, in an interview to be published on Sunday.

The British-based team will race under the name of BMW WilliamsF1 and is scheduled to show its car at BMW's Munich headquarters on Monday.

Berger reiterated the team's ambition to be in the top flight of Formula One within three years but added: "In the first year a victory or a place on the podium isn't realistic."

"Our competitors are not McLaren, Ferrari or Jordan but are more the teams and drivers at the top of the middle-ranking section, such as Prost Peugeot, Benetton, BAR or Honda."

Anyone who expected more straight off did not understand the business. "We'll still be up against the world powers of Formula One construction," Berger said.

BMW WilliamsF1 will have German Ralf Schumacher, brother of former world champion Michael, as number one driver.

"It's a new experience for him too. He's going to have to try to be patient. But his youth and impatience will help give us an extra boost. He's got the Schumacher speed," Berger said.

The team said last month that reports that Italy's Alex Zanardi had lost his place as second driver were pure speculation.