Dump BMW, Webber Tells Williams

In the wake of BMW's announcement that they are buying Sauber and will run their own team in Formula One in 2006, Webber believes Williams would be better off forging a completely new direction rather than accepting life as BMW's second-string team.

When asked by Autosport-Atlas about whether the team should continue with BMW or make a clean break, Webber said emphatically: "Clean break.

"That is just what I think. BMW have done it (bought Sauber) for a reason and I have got a lot of respect for them. I have been here only five minutes compared to them, because I arrived while the whole thing was rolling, but for the team I think it could be better to have a new start."

Williams are already understood to have had talks with Toyota, Honda and Cosworth about a deal for next year, although BMW themselves have said they would be happy to continue supplying engines to the team.

Webber added that he was not too concerned about the future and said he had faith that team owners Frank Williams and Patrick Head would sort the situation out.

"This (the BMW deal) wasn't part of the programme, there is no question about that for me," he explained. "I have got a lot of trust in Frank and Patrick. It is not ideal because you want harmony within a team, but I have been through tougher times before and Frank is a fantastic individual.

"We have got to find a way to get better results next year, even if it is with BMW. It is not a question of recovering but making sure that we can turn things around and get in a position to be strong."