BMW not giving up yet

BMW team principal Mario Theissen insists his team have not stopped pushing hard despite failing to live up to expectations this season.

The Swiss-based team finished third in the 2008 Championship, but have not been able to repeat their success in 2009, much to the bewilderment of Theissen.

"I don't know," the German said when asked why BMW have struggled.

"It is a mix of impact factors. We were just discussing the tyre situation which is really strange, day to day, car to car, same drivers, same car and once it works and then it doesn't," he added.

Despite the disappointment Theissen still believes the team have reason to keep on working hard.

"[There's] two reasons [to continue pushing]: number one the aero regulations don't change so what you learn, and apparently we have a lot to learn because we are lagging behind, can be used for next year as well," Theissen said.

"Number two, the race weekend is the only weekend to test something out on the track so it would be silly to give up this opportunity and just work out on the track."

Challenging the front-runners may not be on the cards, but Theissen still has goals for the team this season.

"To close the gap. Now it is about performance, not about certain positions," he said.

BMW are currently eighth on the Constructor's Table, with only eight points to their name.

planetf1.com