What was recently an absolute pipe-dream is now two weeks from reality - an Aussie driving in a frontline Formula 1 team !!!


Webber jags seat at Williams

11jul04

AUSTRALIAN Formula One driver Mark Webber will almost certainly be racing a front-running Williams at next month's Hungarian Grand Prix.

Williams appears to have won the race for Webber, 27, beating off a late, big-money challenge from Toyota.
Team owner Sir Frank Williams is expected to negotiate a release for Webber from Jaguar in time for the Hungarian race on August 15.

Jaguar's position is felt to have no hope of fulfilling its part of a performance clause in Webber's contract, allowing it to retain him if it was sixth on the constructors' championship by Hungary.

The Ford-owned team has slipped back this season and is second last in the constructors' championship, ahead of only Minardi.

Webber said this week a decision had been made on his future, but that it would be two weeks before it could be made known.

Williams will have to compensate cash-strapped Jaguar, perhaps as much as $695,000 a race, for taking Webber early.

But an August switch will give Williams and Webber the rest of this season to compare him directly with Juan Pablo Montoya, the volatile Colombian ace rated by many the second best driver in F1 to six-time world champion Michael Schumacher.

Montoya will leave Williams at the end of this year to join McLaren, while the other Williams driver, Ralf Schumacher, has spinal fractures and is unlikely to race again this season. He will join Toyota next year.

Toyota had also been interested in Webber and had talks with his manager, Italian Flavio Briatore, as late as last weekend.

However, Toyota's offer was not as attractive to Webber as the chance to join Williams, which has won the constructors' championship 10 times.

While the Williams team has not won a GP this year, history suggests that, apart from Ferrari, it offers Webber his best chance to become a frontrunner, race victor and perhaps world champion.

Webber said at Silverstone on Thursday, ahead of tonight's British GP: "I know everything, you guys (media) know nothing. And that's how it will be today."

Possible teammates for Webber at Williams next year include young Englishman Anthony Davidson, former world champion Jacques Villeneuve, Italian Giancarlo Fisichella and Williams test drivers Marc Gene and Antonio Pizzonia.

AAP


Bloody sensational news! Ralf Schumachers injury is our fortune.. we don't have to wait till next year to get the Webster out of that shitbox Shaguar and into a competitive car..

Now only if Williams can get their act back together - hopefully history will show the better more experienced team will come through (as opposed to Toyota who are throwing buckloads of cash at a new team) ..

I read Toyota offered him the same as Ralf ($30 milllion), but Webber leaned towards Williams because he wants to win now.
It's a crying shame the Jag never lived up to expectations (and what's with the launch control?), but oddly enough, Webbers misfortune by way of team performance has allowed him to step into the big time.

It looks like Flavio Briatore isn't about to tie him to Renault either.
Good news all round. I wonder who Williams number 2 driver will be?

Isn't about to tie who to Renault?

I would personally love to see Jacques Villeneuve back in the Williams alongside Webber - could be great combination and rivalry - Jacques got dudded in the BAR putting up with them until they got their act together right after he left..

^Oddly enough Flavio Briatore has Webber "Contracted" to Renault. He has the final say wherever he goes.

Here's an article from 7 months ago.

Briatore May Sell Webber To Williams December 22 16:31
If Renault chief Flavio Briatore finds no need for Mark Webber in 2005, he may hand him to fellow Formula One principal Sir Frank Williams.


Briatore said he hadn't yet been approached by the BMW-Williams chief 'but these speculations' about the 26-year-old racer's future 'come as no surprise.'

He told Atlas F1: 'If Frank approaches me and asks for Webber, then maybe if I can give up Webber then I will do this for Frank.'

Webber, 26, has signed a new contract for Jaguar Racing through to the end of 2005 but if Renault wants him in '05, they can haul him away from the 'Cat.

'We have to decide whether to exercise this option,' he continued to the leading internet publication.

Briatore said he had 'always believed' in the now hugely-rated Australian.

'I invested money in him,' said the Italian. 'But for sure, for Frank, it's cheaper to get him now than groom him over the years.'

It would be great to see Mark get a decent car that can finish a race under him I reckon he is the rising star of F1

I hope this happens, but there is nothing in the UK press about it

In fact the BBC is reporting that Jaguar intend keeping him for the rest of this year.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/3897045.stm

He has now signed for Williams, and will be a Williams driver starting next year. Great news for Mark, I think he will win the world championship for sure with Williams.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/3932311.stm

^Following in the footsteps of Alan Jones.

I'm so happy about this. Let's hope Williams can catchup with Ferrari next year.

We should also hope that Jaguar will remain a weak team.