Webber Not Expecting Miracles

The former World Champions struggled in France last weekend and will need to show a significant improvement to match McLaren, pacesetters Renault and Ferrari at Silverstone on Sunday.

"It has been very difficult for us so far this year, no question about it," Webber, who is also feeling the pain of a badly burned hip, told a news conference at the circuit on Thursday.

"The pace hasn't been where we expected it to be, and clearly not at the level that Williams is after and we're progressively trying to get back to the front as soon as possible," he added.

"Magny-Cours, for both Nick (Heidfeld) and I, was a very tough weekend. We both did the best job we could in the race but clearly we are a long, long way away from where we expect to be.

"Hopefully at Silverstone we can drag back a lot of that performance and get towards the front again but it was only four days ago, so I don't expect any miracles."

Webber was 12th in France in Williams's worst race of the season while German teammate Heidfeld was 14th.

The Australian suffered burns to his right hip from hot air and exhaust gases after a cockpit component failed at Magny-Cours.

Williams introduced new aerodynamics in France but, with the British Grand Prix following immediately after that and back-to-back races in Germany before an August testing ban, they have little time to play with.

"This is the time of year when you want everything in your favour, not to be trying to dig yourself out of performance related problems," said Webber.

"So timing is everything and at the moment we need to find more pace very quickly."

Silverstone has been good to Williams in the past, with the team taking their first Formula One win there with Switzerland's Clay Regazzoni in 1979.

The team's last win at the central English circuit was in 1997 with Canadian Jacques Villeneuve.

Williams are fifth in the Championship, six points adrift of fourth-placed Toyota and 42 behind Renault.