Webber Happy to Work Alongside 'Amazing' Lauda

New Jaguar driver Mark Webber is looking forward to the prospect of working alongside former World Champion Niki Lauda when he races for the Milton-Keynes team next year.

"I think he is a pretty amazing guy," Webber said of his new team boss on Jaguar's official website. "There are some incredible people in F1, but he has run a big aviation company, he has done a lot of things off his own back, so he is a pretty intense and special sort of character.

"I don't know him that well at the moment but I am here to drive the car and do the best I can and I will get to know him over the course of time."

Austrian Lauda, a three-time Formula One World Champion, took over from American Bobby Rahal at the helm of the struggling Jaguar team at the end of the 2001 season, making significant changes aimed at taking the team to the top.

Lauda signed Australian Webber, who will switch to Jaguar next season after an impressive rookie year with the Minardi team, with who he scored their only two points of 2002 with a fifth place finish at the season opening Australian Grand Prix.

Following his surprising debut, Webber and Minardi were unable to score any points again, the small Anglo-Italian squad being unable to test or develop their car as much as their rivals.

Webber hopes that will change at Jaguar, and he will benefit from the greater resources he will have at his disposal in 2003.

"You can make demands whereas at Minardi it was just impossible to go testing go forwards and ask for new stuff," he added. "The funding is there at Jaguar to progress and to work on areas that need working on. There is going to be more pressure, for sure, but that is the name of the game."

However 25-year old Webber, who will be partnered by Brazilian rookie Antonio Pizzonia at the Ford-owned outfit, is under no illusions about the challenge ahead of him, although he reckons his experience with Minardi in 2002 will be very valuable.

"I've always seen going to Jaguar as a challenge," Webber said. "If my future is with the team then okay. They have had a really tough time but I think it's a good opportunity for me to come in.

"You're not always going to go to a team that is in the top three. It's still a clear step forward and I'm really determined and motivated to get the most from it.

"There is a great vibe at the factory and I've got a new teammate who I'm really looking forward to working with. I hope I become a better driver because of it. I learned a lot this season â€" about F1 and about dealing with people, which is important as a driver but I've still got a lot to learn."