Webber Rules Out Fighting Top Trio

Mark Webber said on Saturday that his Williams team will not be able to compete with Renault, McLaren and Ferrari in Sunday's season-opening Australian Grand Prix but insisted they are at least a match for all the other teams.

Australian Webber arrived at Williams this year expecting to fight for race victories but a slow start and a disappointing lack of pace has left him disappointed in preparation for his home race.

He finished third fastest in the opening qualifying session but that was thanks to some good fortune with the weather and he believes his team are better placed around the lower end of the top eight runners.

"We need to find some more pace, no question about it," said Webber. "I am very confident we can race some of the teams. I think Renault, McLaren and Ferrari are strong, but we can definitely race everyone after that.

"If it is bone dry in the morning I don't think the grid will change a great deal, so it's not too bad. That (third) is a good place for us to start, no question about it."

Williams admitted before the start of the season that they were not where they had hoped to be in terms of pace but promised they are already working on solutions to get them back up to the sharp end as soon as possible.