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Webber admits Williams interest
Australia, Nov 21: Jaguar driver Mark Webber has refused to rule out a move to Williams as replacement for Juan Pablo Montoya.
Australia, Nov 21: Jaguar driver Mark Webber has refused to rule out a move to Williams as replacement for Juan Pablo Montoya.
The Australian said he believed the Williams team had spoken to his Jaguar team boss about a move for 2005.
"I'd be lying if I said there wasn't talk happening, but I've got a contract with Jaguar until the end of 2005," he told the Australian newspaper.
"A lot of things happen without you knowing it, but I'm sure Frank Williams and Tony Purnell spoke about it." Colombian Montoya is joining McLaren at the end of next season and Webber is believed to be Williams' favourite to replace him.
But Webber played down the possibility of a move to Williams in 2005.
"I have got to focus on the new season," he said.
"We could have a really strong year and in terms of the work we've put in, to move on and give somebody else that baby would be disappointing.
"On the other side of the coin, if there is a chance to win Grands Prix, no driver in the world is going to give that up."
He added earlier this week: "I make no secret of the fact that I admire the way Williams go about their work.
"But I'm massively focused towards Jaguar at the moment and I'm looking forward to staying with them for the next few years.
"But we'll see what happens. I've just got to keep driving."
Webber is contracted to Jaguar for two more seasons, but Renault have prior call on him for 2005 and he has been expected to move to them at the end of next year.
The vacancy at Williams, though, could force a change of plans.
Webber, 27, also said he was impressed with the progress made by Jaguar last season but expected the team to improve next year.
Webber scored 17 of Jaguar's 18 points with three sixth-place finishes and four sevenths.
"We set our bar very high in 2003," he said.
"The [Jaguar] R4 was very competitive especially in qualifying.
"Sometimes it was frustrating in race conditions we couldn't take that pace to the front guys as much as we would have liked."
Webber will join Jaguar in Valencia on Thursday for a month of testing.
The team will also be conducting driver trials to decide on a new partner for Webber, with a decision expected in January.
Briton Justin Wilson raced the last five Grands Prix of the season after replacing Brazilian Antonio Pizzonia.
But Jaguar will also try out Austrian Christian Klein and American Townsend Bell.
Meanwhile, the Milton Keynes-based team has announced it will reveal its new Cosworth-powered R5 machine in Barcelona on 18 January.
The Australian Grand Prix, the first of the 2004 season, will be held on 7 March.
Bureau Report
"I'd be lying if I said there wasn't talk happening, but I've got a contract with Jaguar until the end of 2005," he told the Australian newspaper.
"A lot of things happen without you knowing it, but I'm sure Frank Williams and Tony Purnell spoke about it." Colombian Montoya is joining McLaren at the end of next season and Webber is believed to be Williams' favourite to replace him.
But Webber played down the possibility of a move to Williams in 2005.
"I have got to focus on the new season," he said.
"We could have a really strong year and in terms of the work we've put in, to move on and give somebody else that baby would be disappointing.
"On the other side of the coin, if there is a chance to win Grands Prix, no driver in the world is going to give that up."
He added earlier this week: "I make no secret of the fact that I admire the way Williams go about their work.
"But I'm massively focused towards Jaguar at the moment and I'm looking forward to staying with them for the next few years.
"But we'll see what happens. I've just got to keep driving."
Webber is contracted to Jaguar for two more seasons, but Renault have prior call on him for 2005 and he has been expected to move to them at the end of next year.
The vacancy at Williams, though, could force a change of plans.
Webber, 27, also said he was impressed with the progress made by Jaguar last season but expected the team to improve next year.
Webber scored 17 of Jaguar's 18 points with three sixth-place finishes and four sevenths.
"We set our bar very high in 2003," he said.
"The [Jaguar] R4 was very competitive especially in qualifying.
"Sometimes it was frustrating in race conditions we couldn't take that pace to the front guys as much as we would have liked."
Webber will join Jaguar in Valencia on Thursday for a month of testing.
The team will also be conducting driver trials to decide on a new partner for Webber, with a decision expected in January.
Briton Justin Wilson raced the last five Grands Prix of the season after replacing Brazilian Antonio Pizzonia.
But Jaguar will also try out Austrian Christian Klein and American Townsend Bell.
Meanwhile, the Milton Keynes-based team has announced it will reveal its new Cosworth-powered R5 machine in Barcelona on 18 January.
The Australian Grand Prix, the first of the 2004 season, will be held on 7 March.
Bureau Report