Webber Plays Down Friday Performance

Mark Webber says that his fifth fastest time in first qualifying for Sunday's San Marino Grand Prix at Imola is not representative of his Jaguar team's true Formula One ranking.

Australian Webber was beaten only by Ferrari pair Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello and Williams duo Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya as he outpaced McLaren-Mercedes' Championship leaders Kimi Raikkonen and David Coulthard.

His performance follows a scintillating showing in the preceding event at Interlagos, in Brazil, where he was fastest in Friday qualifying and third on Saturday before crashing out of the race while running in the points.

But Webber admitted: "We're very happy, the car's working well and the boys have worked very hard - but I think it's unfair to say we are truly fifth because the McLarens and the other top boys had to go out on a bit of a dirty track.

"We're definitely in the top 10 but not fifth, and I think tomorrow will be more realistic because there's the warm-up in the morning ahead of qualifying and that tends to bunch things up a bit more."

Webber also insisted his strong performance, which has helped buoy Jaguar spirits after three disappointing years, was not down to the extra early Friday morning testing the team have opted to take part in this year. The Australian, who is in only his second year of Formula One after racing for Minardi last season, said his prior knowledge of the track was what helped him get up to speed so quickly.

"I'd say the experience I got in Formula 3000 is crucial," Webber told BBC radio. "Friday morning testing is not so crucial. It perhaps gives us an environment that's not so pressurised to evaluate the tyres, but that's probably all."