Webber 'a cornerstone' of Jag's future

Purnell, who reckons that the eight years it took Ferrari to go from the depths to the heights would be a realistic timeframe for Jaguar to do the same, said the Australian has got what it takes to move the team forward.

"Mark's a bit of a cornerstone," he said. "He reflects the philosophy of the team in that he's straightforward, honest, hard-working and he's at the top through achievement. We want that message throughout the team, and having the centre of attention - which the driver always is - reflect that philosophy, is very nice. We're delighted that he's staying with us for the foreseeable future."

Webber recently signed an extension of his contract committing himself to Jaguar until 2005.

Asked whether he could mould the team around him in the same way that Michael Schumacher has done at Ferrari, Purnell said: "People often ask me if he's the next Schumacher, with a team built around him. I wouldn't have thought so, but it would be a very nice outcome and I wouldn't complain if history recorded that he was the second Schumacher!"

Purnell outlined that the team has done about as much development as is going to be done on the current engine in the R4 because of the need to concentrate on next year's programme to new engine regulations. There will, however, be the usual quota of chassis developments throughout the year.