Williams praise Webber's "Aussie grit"
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-07-05 15:59

Williams have praised Mark Webber for showing 'real Aussie grit' in racing through the pain barrier in Sunday's French Grand Prix. The Australian Formula One driver needed medical treatment for burns to his right hip which the team said had been exposed to temperatures of over 80 degrees celsius.

"He showed real Aussie grit and got on with the job despite circumstances that would, I'm sure, have seen most of the other drivers on the grid quit," said a team spokesman on Monday.

"We weren't as a team having the best of weekends which made Mark's commitment all the more remarkable.

"His attitude is representative of the whole team -- we are 100 percent committed and if you have the courage to stick to your gameplan, it can pay dividends."

By remaining out on the track, Webber made sure of a reasonable starting position in qualifying for the next British Grand Prix on Sunday by finishing 12th.

"Yes, it was pretty uncomfortable," said the Australian, who asked his mechanics to pour water around his seat at the pitstops.

"But I got through it because I wanted a qualifying slot next weekend at Silverstone. It hurts a fair bit, but there's no question of it stopping me racing next weekend."

The team said a small component in the cockpit had failed and a solution would be in place for Silverstone.

The French Grand Prix was Williams' worst performance of the season, at a track where they have been highly successful in previous years.

Germany's Nick Heidfeld was 14th and the former champions failed to score points at the circuit for the first time since they won the debut race there in 1991 with Briton Nigel Mansell.

"The race was as weak as the qualifying," said Mario Theissen, motorsport director of engine partners BMW who have announced that they are buying the Sauber team next year. He said the engines ran without problem.

Williams, for whom Silverstone is a home race and the circuit where they won their first grand prix in 1979, recognised a new bodywork package had been disappointing but remained confident.

"The team will not be deflected from its aggressive approach towards its development programme," said the spokesman, adding that the bodywork was "the biggest single step" in more than 100 aerodynamic tweaks so far this season.

"We're confident that the mark II bodywork will yield significant advantages but clearly we will be working intensively this week to analyse what worked and what didn't."

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