England, July 01: Williams can fight for the Formula One world championship this season after their recent upturn in form, according to driver Juan Pablo Montoya. Ralf Schumacher's victory at the European Grand Prix on Sunday was the team's second win in three races - and they were also major contenders in Canada two weeks ago.
Montoya, who finished second to Schumacher at the Nurburgring, said: "I think the team has done a fantastic job. The last four races, since Austria, we have been very quick.
"In Austria I was leading until I blew up, then Monaco we won. The last race (Canada) we were very strong, finished second and third, and now first and second.
"It looks as if we can probably keep the ball rolling to the end of the year."

Williams' one-two in Germany leapfrogged them ahead of McLaren into second place in the constructors' world championship.

Ferrari lead that chase with 95 points, while Williams have 82 and McLaren 76 with seven races to go.

In the drivers' championship, Ralf Schumacher is third on 43 points, with Montoya fourth on 39. Ferrari's Michael Schumacher heads the table on 58 with McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen on 51.

For Williams, it is a major turnaround after a poor start to the season, in which the team admitted to being disappointed with the initial performance of their new FW25 car.

However, team bosses repeatedly said the machine would improve into a race-winner as the season progressed, and they have been proved right.

The weekend was extra special for Williams because they finally agreed an extension of their engine supply contract with F1 standard-setters BMW after months of tough negotiations.

"We have taken an amazing step," Ralf Schumacher said. "If you look at where we started, I can't remember a team turning it around so much."

Mario Theissen, motorsport director of BMW, said: "It shows that we have closed the gap and we are in the fight for the championship.

"Everything has improved. The whole team has worked very hard in the last few months, especially the aero team.

"We are not finished making improvements. I'm confident there will be more improvements in the second half of the season."

Bureau Report