Yeheti
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Wurz replaces Webber in 2007 Williams | Quote: |
Wednesday, 02, August, 2006, 18:23
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Alex Wurz will partner Nico Rosberg in the 2007 Williams race line-up after the team sensationally announced on Wednesday that it will not be continuing its relationship with Mark Webber beyond the end of this season.
Wurz will step up from his current role as the team’s test and reserve driver, which he has held since joining the Grove-based squad from McLaren at the end of last year.
Webber’s future is unclear – but with Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen now seemingly set to team up at Ferrari, Fernando Alonso’s vacated Renault seat is wide open for the Flavio Briatore-managed Australian to secure.
Explaining Wurz’s promotion, team owner Frank Williams said: “Alex brings us important technical continuity and understanding of the car and as well as being an excellent communicator with our engineers, he is ultra-competitive during the Friday ‘full tank’ practice sessions.
“Alex will be a great racing driver for us as he is one of the few men I have seen in a wheel-banging confrontation with Michael Schumacher and come out on top!”
Williams also confirmed that Rosberg will be kept on for 2007 after a sporadically impressive rookie campaign convinced the team of the 21-year-old German’s potential.
“Retaining Nico for next year was not a tough decision,” Williams said.
“He has shown great promise so far in his debut season and I know he will build on this with every race.”
Rosberg welcomed the opportunity to build on his experience with the team.
“Stability and continuity are very important for me in the early stages of my Formula 1 career, so I am really pleased that we are now set for next year and that I will continue to work with Alex," he said.
“I have learnt a lot from the team and I hope I have contributed my fair share too, but now we have the basis to step it up for the remainder of this season and next.”
The team made it clear that Webber will definitely see out the season, ruling out a repeat of the Montoya/McLaren scenario whereby the Colombian was replaced by Pedro de la Rosa two days after his shock announcement that he would be switching to NASCAR.
Frank Williams paid tribute to Webber for his stalwart efforts since joining the team in 2005.
“As much as taking great pleasure in confirming Alex and Nico for next season, I must also commend Mark Webber for his contribution to the team over the past two seasons, as he has been a credit to himself and Williams and has never let up in his pursuit of competitive success,” Williams said.
“I know Mark will give his all until the end of the season and we wish him well in his future arrangements.” |
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=36893
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Cheesman
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Thats just pathetic poor Webber has not even had a good car under him how can he show what he really can do when his car wont finish a race. Oh well good to Williams they will continue to slid down hill now that Webber has left.
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vivboots
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well now is his chance to get a good ride. hopefully michael goes so kimi goes to ferrari and webber to renault.
but since michael is better than all of use, im sure he wont.
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JarJarBinks
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I think it better for Webber this way. He must go to Renault. If he cant get a ride maybe he should come race the V8s down here or maybe go race in the USA with Montoya.
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Yeheti
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| JarJarBinks wrote: | | I think it better for Webber this way. He must go to Renault. If he cant get a ride maybe he should come race the V8s down here or maybe go race in the USA with Montoya. |
Yout talk rubbish it would be insanely stupid to come to v8's in australia, what a joke...
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JarJarBinks
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Well it would be better than not racing at all !! at least he would make some money instead of sitting on his ass playing F1 on his Playstation and dreaming of what might have been.
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Cheesman
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To be fair I dont think the F1 Carrer of Mark Webber has hit many great heights yet but also he has never had a strong car. 1 podium in 82 race starts is nothing to jump up and down about. Even before F1 he was never that geat a third place in the forumla 3000 championship in 2000 is about the highlight of his career. He has raced Le Mans but "engine failure" kept him from finishing that as well. Runner up in British Formula Ford Championship is the only other thing I can think of. Maybe Webber is never going to be "great" at Forumla 1 only time will tell.
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vivboots
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hes got he skill, but i dont know why he just can't finish the job.
and he would probably be picked up for a test driver by someone, so he still will be in F1. just like de la ros for example who has been a test driver for mclaren for like 5 years since he left jaguar if my memory serves me correct.
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