Webber measures up to Irvine

Mark Webber would have liked former Jaguar driver Eddie Irvine as a team-mate, as he thinks the Irishman would be a good yardstick to measure up to. Irvine and Jaguar parted company at the end of last season, he and Pedro de la Rosa being replaced ...

Mark Webber would have liked former Jaguar driver Eddie Irvine as a team-mate, as he thinks the Irishman would be a good yardstick to measure up to. Irvine and Jaguar parted company at the end of last season, he and Pedro de la Rosa being replaced by Webber and Antonio Pizzonia. Webber thinks he and the infamously opinionated Irvine may not have seen eye-to-eye though.

Mark Webber.

Photo by Brousseau Photo.

"It would have been good to have had Eddie as a partner because he is a big name and would have been the perfect yardstick," he told the British press. "Parts of us may not have clicked so we may not have got on that well -- but I can stand up for myself."

Pizzonia, meanwhile, is not about to be dropped by Jaguar just yet. Rumour has it that McLaren test driver Alex Wurz will replace the Brazilian but managing director David Pitchforth maintains the team is supporting him, at least for the moment.

"Contrary to the wave of media speculation around us on the subject of Antonio's future, he will race this weekend in Barcelona and we will continue to support his development and growth," Pitchforth said.

"Both Jaguar Racing and Antonio share a mutual interest in the outcome of his development and both sides have every intention of extracting the maximum from the potential of the R4 package over a race weekend."

Pizzonia commented: "It is important for me to ignore the recent press speculation about my position in the team and perform to the best of my ability in Barcelona."