Williams: Webber is an Inspiration

Australian Mark Webber has wasted no time in impressing his new employers at Williams after joining from Jaguar at the end of the last Formula One season.

Team boss Frank Williams hailed his new driver as 'inspirational' on Thursday and looked forward to him showing what he could do behind the wheel when the new season starts in Melbourne on March 6.

"From the limited viewing so far, what we see is astonishingly good value for money, but more importantly I think he's got the shoulders for it," Williams said at a sponsor news conference.

"He's certainly inspirational. That's a bit of an exaggeration but you know what I'm trying to say. He's prepared to spend all of his time on the team and Formula One and make the whole show for us better.

"He's brought quite a lot to us...above all the spirit that has demonstrated to everybody that he's worth working very, very hard for," said Williams.

Webber, who made his debut with Minardi in 2002 and then spent two years at Jaguar, is so far the only confirmed driver at BMW-powered Williams. The team finished last season in fourth place overall.

The Australian's stirring fifth place for Minardi in Melbourne on his debut in 2002 remains his best finish in Formula One but that is sure to change now that he has joined a winning team.

"He is very much liked, very much appreciated because he's got time for anything in Formula One. He does come into the factory frequently...and he just makes himself available, talks to people," said Williams.

"He takes his job very professionally and seriously and looks quick in testing. But at the end of the day, let's wait and see how he races."

Webber, speaking via a live link-up with Bahrain where he has been driving the car for filming ahead of a team livery launch on Friday, sounded confident.

"I'm looking forward to going to Australia for the first race. It's a race that I'm very proud of...so I hope we can get off to a good start and the fans will be well satisfied," said the 28-year-old.