Wilson Still Thrilled Despite Poor Qualifying

Justin Wilson may have just qualified 16th for the German Grand Prix, but he was all smiles as he continued to savour outdoing World Champion Michael Schumacher in Friday's opening qualifying session.

But before the lanky British driver, who switched to Jaguar from Minardi only last week, could allow himself to get carried away with such lofty thoughts, he put on a serious look and tried to dampen the expectations swirling around him.

"On a one-lap race like that anything can happen," said Wilson, who finished seventh to Schumacher's ninth on Friday. "I was very pleased to do that. I was very pleased for the team."

Wilson, who celebrated his 25th birthday on Thursday, mused that he might pin Friday's timesheet on his bedroom wall. It will be back to more familiar territory on Sunday when he starts 16th for his first crack at the German Grand Prix, even though that is two places better than he ever started with Minardi.

"It shows you'll have good days and bad days," he said of Saturday's final qualifying session.

Wilson, 25, has already had number of good days since being signed from Minardi as a replacement for struggling Brazilian Antonio Pizzonia last week. With just a handful of races to stake his claim for a place with the Ford-owned team next year, Wilson is delighted with his quick start with Jaguar.

"It's a very nice car," Wilson said. "It's very driver friendly. It makes life easier. It's very good. There's more downforce and more balance. A very nice car."

Loath to criticise his former team, Wilson picked his words carefully. But when he started talking about the way the Jaguar cornered, the smile returned to his face.

"It's so, so nice when it goes like that," he said. "It boosts your confidence and you can feel it all the way through the lap. It makes you very happy."

Wilson won the Formula 3000 championship in 2001 and started the first 11 races of the year for Minardi with best finish of 11th.

The tallest driver in the sport at 6ft 3ins (1.90m), he was once told by former champion Jackie Stewart that he would be too tall for a Formula One career.

He did not finish his first four races and has yet to score a point. But he will be expected to do so at Jaguar, who are chasing their best ever finish to a season with Australian Mark Webber having nabbed 12 points.

"I'm very grateful for all the attention," Wilson said. "I have to keep working hard and moving forward."