Webber prepared to be lapped

Mark Webber has revealed that Minardi uses its position relative to the leading runners as a major factor in determining its pitstop strategy

The Australian, who will make his debut at his home grand prix in two weeks' time, is not used to running at the back of the field, but the F1 minnows have tried to prepare him for the experience that he will face in most races this year.

"I was talking about strategy at Minardi and they said, 'Mark, you've got to realise that we actually sometimes set our strategy up, we have to check out when the cars are going to come in and lap us,'" he revealed, "and I'm like, "Bloody hell, how am I going to get my head around that?

"Normally I'm used to being on the first two or three rows and to be starting down there [the back] is going to be different. There's also a technique in not losing too much time when you're getting lapped. You have to try and co-operate because you can wreck the big boys' races, but you're obviously trying to do your own race as well. So it will be interesting."

The PS02, which will be given its final shakedown at Misano in Italy tomorrow (Tuesday), has shown reasonable speed in testing, although it has been over two seconds a lap off the pacesetters. If this is repeated in Melbourne, Webber can expect to be lapped at around two-thirds distance.