Highlights

Webber lifts home hopes with strong qualifying run

(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-04-01 15:08

MELBOURNE - Mark Webber raised hopes of a first ever home driver on the podium at the Australian Grand Prix with a solid performance for Williams in Saturday's qualifying session at Albert Park.

"I'm hoping for at least some points," the Australian told reporters after the frantic hour against the clock, where he finished seventh.

Webber had suffered a frustrating opening half hour after having to drive over debris thrown from Michael Schumacher's car in the pit-lane as well as coming across some of the worst traffic in the knockout contest.

But he recovered well to clock the fourth fastest time in the second session and then secured seventh with his final complete lap of the hour with a time of one minute 26.937secs.

"It was a pretty interesting session today, the heart rate is always there with these sessions," said Webber, who had been roared on by a fervent home crowd.

"The car was really good on low fuel, but perhaps we didn't get as much out of it as we should have carrying more weight."

Hopes have been high that Webber can break the Australian jinx in Melbourne ever since he claimed a surprise fifth place on his debut with minnows Minardi in 2002.
The 29-year-old matched that finishing position in his maiden season with Williams last year and will start Sunday's race in ebullient form.

"I feel good about tomorrow and seventh isn't such a bad place to start the race from. I would have liked to be a position or two higher on the grid but I'm looking forward to it."

Williams technical director Sam Michael said Webber had performed admirably under the pressure of the traffic.

"Mark was good for another position on his last run but he encountered traffic. We are confident of the car's long run pace for tomorrow and are aiming for points with both cars."

Webber's Williams team mate Nico Rosberg was a disappointing 15th fastest and was eliminated in the second round of qualifying.