Sam Michael about Japanese GP

Williams F1's Technical Director, Sam Michael, talks about one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar for the drivers and the engineers. The BMW Williams Team hopes to collect points this weekend after a pointless weekend in Brazil.

"Suzuka is one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar for the drivers, where intense focus is required through the initial Esses section. If you get the first corner wrong, the penalty grows through the whole sector. With high speed corners, a hairpin and a chicane, Suzuka has everything. Strong braking performance is required for the chicane, and to a lesser extent at the hairpin. However, high speed stability is more important as is the driver's confidence to allow him to push hard through the Esses. Strategy will be interesting because Suzuka is one of the circuits where carrying too much fuel can be a penalty due to the high speed corners.

We will have some aero changes in Japan which we hope will improve the FW27 for the final couple of races. We finished our 2005 in-season test programme in Jerez this week, during which Mark Webber, Antonio Pizzonia and Nico Rosberg worked through a comprehensive programme of tyre testing for Michelin, brake duct improvements and set-up changes for Suzuka."