Webber Looking to Winning F1 Future

Australian Mark Webber is looking forward to a winning future in Formula One, although he reckons he has not achieved much yet in the sport.

27-year old Webber was the revelation of last season with the Jaguar team, scoring all but one of the Ford-owned squad's 18 points and impressing in qualifying with his speed. The Australian, who has a contract with Jaguar until the end of 2005, has been linked to the Williams team as a replacement for Juan Pablo Montoya when the Colombian leaves for McLaren at the end of this season.

"Clearly there is stuff going on, seats available which could make me go a lot further in my career a lot quicker," Webber told the Telegraph. "So far I have made good decisions in my career. I want to win races and also there are people out there beating me because of the car they are in, which does my head in.

"That can't go on forever. I want one day to have the chance to run at the front. But you have to remember I have done only 32 Grands Prix. It was not that long ago I was happy to sign a Minardi contract. I have not achieved anything in F1 yet. You can never rest on your laurels.

"When you arrive in F1 it's like wow, you are definitely in the lolly shop. But that lasts half an hour. You soon realise that you have to deliver."

Webber has so far blown away his teammates at Jaguar. Brazilian Antonio Pizzonia started last year as the Australian's teammate, but was replaced by Justin Wilson after 11 races. The Briton also languished when compared to Webber, and neither him nor Pizzonia will be on the grid in 2004.

Webber believes Wilson could have had a better chance of racing this season had he stayed at Minardi in 2003.

"[Michael] Schumacher had a five-race deal with Benetton after leaving Jordan and blew Nelson Piquet away to get his career up and running," Webber said. "Justin had a similar deal at Jaguar. The poor guy was under a lot of pressure. I could see that.

"I did not change what I was doing. Sometimes Justin was two-tenths off, sometimes eight-tenths, sometimes 1.2. That's a lot. In hindsight he might have finished with Minardi and got a seat this year. But you never know in this sport and were he offered the same deal again he would take it. He's a nice guy but he had his chance. What more can you say?"

The Australian, who has been tipped to shine this year by World Champion Schumacher, believes the Ferrari driver is still the man to look up to.

"Michael is the benchmark," Webber added. "He rocks up at these circuits, five laps and he's on it. That is how it is. Tiger Woods turns up at any golf course in the world and immediately knows what to do. You can become more polished, more complete as a driver with experience but you have to know what you are about from day one. If not you can be exposed very quickly."