Webber seeks fast team-mate

Several drivers have been linked to the second Grove berth including former world champions Mika Hakkinen and Jacques Villeneuve, former Williams driver David Coulthard, Jordan's Nick Heidfeld, Champ Car star Sebastien Bourdais, current test driver Antonio Pizzonia and even Jaguar's Christian Klien.

Webber's team-mates have always been in his shadow - Alex Yoong at Minardi, Pizzonia, Wilson and now Klien at Jaguar - but he does not want that to be the case when he joins Williams.

"I have absolutely no influence on it," he told Autosport. "I need someone with whom I'm very, very even, and we're pushing each other each weekend as much as we can, helping to develop the car, and having a healthy situation in general."

Webber added that he had no preference for an experienced driver or a rookie as both had their pros and cons.

"You can bark up both trees as much as you want," he said. "You can go youthful, or go for someone whose a seasoned campaigner and knows the score. Both can work. I've seen both work very well and both not work well, in terms of one not having the motivation, and the other not having the experience and making too many mistakes when it counts. It's tough to say."

Click HERE for Autosport's exclusive interview with Mark Webber