Webber makes test debut for WilliamsF1


Mark Webber

By Andrew Hooper
November 25 2004

Mark Webber would make his test debut for the BMW WilliamsF1 team at the Circuit de Catalunya. For the Australian it would be the start of a process of familiaising himself with the team and new car. He would complete fifty nine laps, despite suffering a driveshaft failure very early in the day.

 

 

 
Barcelona Test 24:11:2004 Day Two
 
For the BMW WilliamsF1 team their second day at the Circuit de Catalunya would see Mark Webber make his test debut with the team. The previous day he had completed only four laps in order to familiarise himself with the FW26 in preparation for huis first full day of testing.

Mark WebberThe day would see test driver Antonio Pizzonia join Webber as they both prepared to take to the track under blue skies. The main focus of on-lookers was obviously Mark as he prepared to start his day testing.

For Webber his day would again see him focusing on becoming familiar with his new team and car. He would complete fifty nine laps with a best time of 1m:15.387.

Mark's day would not start off well with his car braking its driveshaft shortly after taking to the track forcing him to stop at the first hairpin and return to the garage.

In an interview with the British Daily Telegraph Webber said: "In this game you can tee yourself up to be knocked down quite heavily. If you want big results you can expect to be hit hard. When I stopped I thought, Oh no. I wanted to come here today and do a good job.

"Fortunately I was able to get out there again and put some laps on the board. When I did it was easy to see why the car wins races. It hits you in the face, flat out. You can put a huge amount of energy into smaller teams, but it is not easy down there."

For team-mate Pizzonia his day would also see him suffer from problems with his car that would see him complete just six laps with a best time of 1m:16.805.

Webber also made it clear that he was not looking to set impressive lap times over the winter while he tested.

Webber added: "It's not about lap times. I have come here to get to know the team better and learn about the car. I'm seeing a lot of faces and I don't exactly know what they do."

Weber also commented to F1Racing.net on how he has a lot to learn in regard to a range of things from the team to the technical aspects of the WilliamsF1 car.

Webber said: "On Tuesday I drove some installation laps I felt from the first moment that it was completely different then the car I am used to drive. I know it will take a little time to get used to this new car. There are many little things which makes a car different then the other one. Especially the braking system of Williams, which is another then the one Jaguar uses, is one of the main things I have to learn."

He added "These things will be complete normal to me in Melbourne, but at this moment they are simply not. It takes some time. Now I can start to make the car mine and set it up like I want it."

Webber would praise his new team when he said: ''(Williams) have the resources, a tremendous amount of history and I can see are very professional. That's not to say Jaguar weren't (professional), but this is Williams.''

 

POS. DRIVER TEAM TIME LAPS

1. J.P. Montoya West McLaren Mercedes 1:14.211 46/57
2. R. Schumacher Panasonic Toyota Racing 1:14.602 61/64
3. F. Massa Sauber Petronas 1:14.938 22/71
4. C. Klien Red Bull Racing 1:15.137 86/92
5. M. Webber BMW WilliamsF1 Team 1:15.387 21/59
6. M. Gené Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 1:15.586 29/69
7. L. Badoer Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 1:15.657 23/106
8. J. Trulli Panasonic Toyota Racing 1:15.739 45/50
9. V. Liuzzi Red Bull Racing 1:15.925 59/70
10. G. Fisichella Mild Seven Renault F1 Team 1:16.045 23/34
11. A. Wurz West McLaren Mercedes 1:16.369 21/82
12. J. Button Lucky Strike BAR Honda 1:16.485 25/62
13. A. Pizzonia BMW WilliamsF1 Team 1:16.805 5/6
14. F. Montagny Mild Seven Renault F1 Team 1:17.220 34/68
15. E. Bernoldi Lucky Strike BAR Honda 1:19.970 10/34

 
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