Webber favourite for Williams
Williams technical director Sam Michael has confirmed that Mark Webber is the team's first choice to replace Juan Pablo Montoya next season. The Colombian is off to McLaren and it may be that Williams will have two vacancies -- Ralf Schumacher is ...
Williams technical director Sam Michael has confirmed that Mark Webber is the team's first choice to replace Juan Pablo Montoya next season. The Colombian is off to McLaren and it may be that Williams will have two vacancies -- Ralf Schumacher is still dithering. Schumacher is widely presumed to be heading for Toyota but there has been no official confirmation.
Either way, Webber is the top of Williams' wish list. Asked if the Australian is the favourite, Michael said: "Yes. He has the right mentality, he has an aggressive attitude in a positive sense and he seems like a good team player."
"He has been successful and very fast in any car he has ever driven -- sportscars, Formula Fords and Formula One -- he has definitely the majority of the time, with the exception of today, out-performed his teammates so he looks like a positive step."
However, there is the matter of Webber's contract with Jaguar to be negotiated. "It is obviously confidential but he is on the list and what his personal situation is with his contract is something that remains to be seen," Michael added.
Webber is contracted to Jaguar through 2005 but it is thought that he has a performance related clause -- reportedly the team needs to be sixth in the constructors' standings to be able to hold on to him. Currently, Jaguar is eighth.
Share Or Save This Story
Aston Martin success under Adrian Newey is only a matter of time, says former F1 driver
Charles Leclerc deserved black-and-white flag for collision, Oscar Piastri insists
Juan Pablo Montoya says Kimi Antonelli is his own biggest F1 title threat
F1 2026 mid-season grades: McLaren starts on back foot but makes rapid progress
Could McLaren follow Red Bull’s path with its own F1 engine – and should it?
The subtle but significant changes McLaren will make for its 2027 F1 car
Dale Earnhardt's grandson Wyatt Miller flips wildly in crash, but drives away
Denny Hamlin breaks down pit struggles that cost No. 11 team
Shane van Gisbergen falls to Chase bubble but actually gains ground at Richmond
Austin Cindric: Richmond was the 'kick in the ass' we needed
Could McLaren follow Red Bull’s path with its own F1 engine – and should it?
Top 10 rookie seasons in F1
Why F1 shouldn’t be hiding its most interesting characters
100 not out: Alex Albon on Williams’s desire to atone for its 2026 struggles
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments