Feature: Mixed Reviews for Class of 2002

Mark Webber knows all about beginner's luck. Allan McNish and Takuma Sato rather less so.

Since a surprise two points dropped into Webber's lap on his Formula One debut for Minardi in Melbourne in March, the no-worries Australian has made the most of his rare opportunities to impress.

Despite driving for the slowest and most under-funded of teams, Webber has managed to eclipse his Malaysian teammate Alex Yoong in qualifying as well as repeatedly putting the limping Jaguars in the shade. Eddie Irvine and Pedro de la Rosa have each started behind Webber three times in eight races, a fact that will not have gone unnoticed by Jaguar boss Niki Lauda.

In Monaco, albeit in a Thursday free practice session, the Australian raised a few eyebrows with the eighth fastest time ahead of Ferrari's Michael Schumacher on a circuit that puts a premium on precision. Webber has now finished six times - fifth once, 11th four times and 12th in Austria.

In Canada last weekend he slipped past Heinz-Harald Frentzen's Arrows and McNish's Toyota before they powered ahead again on the straight.

With the season at its halfway point, the Renault-contracted driver's mid-term report makes happier reading than that of some of the other Formula One rookies even if his Minardi team are struggling to survive.

"It's not affecting me in terms of driving," he said last week of the situation. "There's a lot of stuff going on at the moment which is not good for us but I'm just keeping my head down and concentrating on what I can do."

Other Rookies

Webber cannot be certain of a drive next season but he clearly has talent and of the four newcomers to the grid he is one whose stock - comparative to expectations - has risen solidly.

The other positive performer is Brazilian Felipe Massa, the youngest of all at 21, who has scored three points for Ferrari-powered Sauber. Massa has impressed with his speed and obvious confidence.

But it has not been all plaudits and he was accused of careless driving by both Renault drivers Jarno Trulli and Jenson Button in Monaco last month when they felt he had blocked them in qualifying. The youngster then shunted compatriot Enrique Bernoldi off the track during the race before crashing out.

Sato, who escaped a terrifying crash in Austria when Heidfeld's Sauber ploughed into him, and McNish have had less to shout about. The Japanese has nerves of steel and has certainly made an impact at Jordan, acquiring an accident-prone reputation after several crashes including an embarrassing collision with his teammate in Malaysia.

But, despite paddock gossip about his future at Jordan should the team lose their Honda engines, team boss Eddie Jordan remains adamant that Sato is a star in the making.

"We will see him getting better and better, I'm quite sure of that. He's gaining in confidence and we'll make it happen hopefully," Jordan said in Montreal at the weekend.

Briton McNish, 32, is the oldest new boy of all and hardly a rookie given his extensive experience in sportscars. Despite being well liked and cheerful, he cannot count on retaining an increasingly desirable seat with one of the wealthiest teams in the sport.

McNish's best finish so far was a seventh place in Malaysia and, with teammate Mika Salo already scoring twice, needs to bring out his talent in the second half of the year. A little beginner's luck would not go amiss.