Webber says Red Bull four weeks behind

Australian F1 driver Mark Webber, carrying the weight of the home nation's hopes, was left to rue another dispiriting day at Albert Park on Friday

A transmission problem in Friday's second dry session left him back in 17th place. The session was the 30-year-old's first for Red Bull after two years at Williams.

Friday's practice sessions were another far cry from the day he stormed onto the Formula One scene with his fifth on debut for Minardi at Albert Park in 2002.

"The potential will be there (for the car) but not in the short term," Webber told reporters.

"The gearbox played up in the last half hour so we lost that. It would have been nice to run to the end of the session to get more information but (teammate) David (Coulthard) did the laps so we can use that."

Coulthard did not share Webber's problems, but still managed only seventh and 10th on the first day of competitive action in the 2007 season.

Webber agreed with Red Bull team principal Christian Horner's observation that the team were about four weeks behind where they wanted to be, but retained faith in designer Adrian Newey's ability to get the car up to speed.

"The potential is there, Adrian is working hard and he's shown in the past he can deliver a good car but it's not easy," Webber added.

"We're four weeks behind, yes, but when it goes it goes in this game. I think that we can develop for the future but it's not easy and we've got to work hard."