Compaq A Complement For Brain Power.

Patrick Head has welcomed Williams' new sponsor Compaq to the team, but admitted that modern IT facilities only helped to complement designers' imagination.


Addressing the media at the team's official launch in Barcelona today [Monday], Head claimed that most of his - and his colleagues' - ideas still came from their brains, and modern computer software only helped to express these ideas in reality. Denying that there would ever be a time when Formula One machines would be entirely computer-produced, Head claimed that original ideas had to come from somewhere, but that the likes of Compaq could help by eliminating problem areas.


The logos of the second largest IT company in the world adorned the flanks of the white-and-blue FW22 unveiled at the Circuit de Catalunya this morning, confirming rumours that Williams and Compaq would team up to create the first - and largest - major non-tobacco sponsorship in F1.


"Both of these platforms [F1 and IT] are very fast paced," revealed Compaq vice-president Gabriele Zedimayer at the launch, "They are about innovation, high performance and team work. [Formula One] is also a tremendous platform on which to get our values associated globally with a company such as Williams."


There was little surprise in the announcement despite the rumours, however, as the backdrop to the launch was covered in Compaq logos as the media arrived. The company will supply Williams with a combination of financial backing and technology throughout a five-year deal estimated to be worth ?20million.