Motor racing: Williams prepare for constructors' crown

The Ferrari was out in front unchallenged for much of yesterday's session, but the Williams closed in and ultimately edged ahead. The history of the grand prix world championship had been encapsulated in one hour's practice.

Tomorrow's Hungarian Grand Prix should confirm Williams' eighth constructors' championship, equalling Ferrari's record. That the Italian team have been there since the first season, 46 years ago, and the British half that time, morally tilts the balance in Williams' direction.

Williams-Renault require only two points to retrieve the crown from Benetton- Renault and since Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve, first and second in the drivers' championship, were first and third yesterday, it is reasonable to assume only breakdowns would prevent their getting them.

When Hill moved ahead of Michael Schumacher by 0.022sec, watching and savouring, as usual, from his wheelchair was Frank Williams, the man who abandoned a career as a quick yet erratic driver to set up his own team. His struggles in the early days are now part of motor racing folklore: when his telephone line was cut off, he ran the business from a phone box.

Williams expressed surprise that he had "bumbled" all the way to Ferrari's landmark. "I'll have a drink of tea on that," he said yesterday. He was perhaps luckiest of all to be joined, in 1977, by an equally gifted, ambitious racing freak called Patrick Head, whose particular talent was designing cars.

The pair have been together ever since and, like most team men, they glean greater satisfaction from success in the constructors' championship than in the drivers' category. Williams, in particular, has always laid stress on the contribution of his engineers and designers, and did so again yesterday, possibly a timely reminder as Hill endeavours to negotiate a new contract.

Williams said: "I'm not here for the driver's benefit. I'm here to enjoy myself and keep up my living. Drivers come and go but the team, hopefully, are here forever."

Williams has been confined to a wheelchair since a road accident, 10 years ago, but never relinquished his hold on team affairs. Some have suggested the disability threw his attention to the job into even sharper focus.

"I've not been aware of that," he said. "The accident was a bit like falling over and grazing your knee.You get up, dust yourself down and start again."

Here, on this tight, twisting circuit, where overtaking is well nigh impossible, Schumacher, the reigning champion, just might have a chance. If he can make the front row of the grid, if he can start well, if he can get to the first corner in front. If....

HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX (Budapest) Provisional times after opening practice sessions: 1 D Hill (GB) Williams 1min 21.144sec; 2 M Schumacher (Ger) Ferrari 1:21.166; 3 J Villeneuve (Can) Williams 1:21.369; 4 E Irvine (GB) Ferrari 1:22.332; 5 G Berger (Aut) Benetton 1:22.617; 6 J Alesi (Fra) Benetton 1:22.889; 7 O Panis (Fr) Ligier 1:23.076; 8 J Herbert (GB) Sauber 1:23.360; 9 R Barrichello (Bra) Jordan 1:23.400; 10 M Hakkinen (Fin) McLaren 1:23.495; 11 M Brundle (GB) Jordan 1:23.494; 12 H-H Frentzen (Ger) Sauber 1:23.667.