Jaguar Test Could be Career Boost, Says Webber

Mark Webber will trade his Minardi for a Jaguar on Friday in a Formula One test that could benefit both him and his current team.

The 25-year-old Australian will try out Jaguar's R3, without the aerodynamic revisions due to be introduced at Silverstone in next week's British Grand Prix, at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya test track.

"It's something (Minardi boss) Paul (Stoddart) and (Jaguar's) Niki (Lauda) have come to really and there might be something in it for us, for Minardi, so it's quite interesting," Webber told Reuters at last weekend's European Grand Prix.

"It might be a win-win everywhere. For sure, it's not a big performance test, it's not a massive evaluation, an 'Is Mark Webber quicker than Eddie Irvine?' kind of test.

"It's not going to happen like that out there."

Irvine's contract at Jaguar expires at the end of the season and the oldest man in Formula One, he will be 37 in November, has yet to decide on his future.

Jaguar, their disappointing cars outqualified by Webber several times this season, have meanwhile been trying out other drivers recently while also being linked strongly to Renault's Jenson Button.

Renault test driver Fernando Alonso, a Minardi driver last year and like Webber managed by Renault team principal Flavio Briatore, tried out the R3 last month.

Webber has made a big name for himself this season, finishing a strong fifth in the opening race in Melbourne after half the field had crashed out on the first lap, and has subsequently been linked to other teams.

Free Engines

Minardi currently have free engines supplied by Asiatech but, according to paddock whispers, are interested in a possible supply of Jaguar's Cosworth ones in 2003. Stoddart hinted as much when he said last week that Webber's test was "part of another deal".

"Obviously we've got to look at 2003. I don't want to say any more about it but you don't have to be Einstein to work out what Jag might have that we want," he told reporters. "It's all part of a slightly bigger picture."

Webber, who will be able to compare the Jaguar with the Benetton he drove as a tester last year as well as with the Minardi, said he was not worried about timings in Barcelona but wanted to put on a good show.

"I know what happens on Grand Prix weekends, what we've done," he said. "But for sure I want to do a good test and hold myself well within the team. It could be interesting how it might benefit me, that's all we can say."

Webber is under long-term contract to Renault but Stoddart says he has him signed up for next year.

"There's a lot of water to go under the bridge yet, for sure, in the whole driver market but it would be a nice problem to have a few teams interested in me," said the Australian.

"I have an option with Paul and I would love to drive for Paul next year but we have to see what is good for everybody."