Post by Bruce on Aug 4, 2006 18:45:50 GMT
Wurz to replace Webber at Williams
Wednesday, August 2, 2006; Posted: 2:19 p.m. EDT (18:19 GMT)
Wurz (left) will replace Webber (right) in the Williams line-up for 2007.
BUDAPEST, Hungary -- Austrian test driver Alexander Wurz will replace Australian Mark Webber in the Williams line-up next season -- the Formula One team have announced.
Germany's Nico Rosberg, son of 1982 world champion Keke, will remain with the British-based team after an impressive rookie season.
Webber, managed by Renault team boss Flavio Briatore, faces an uncertain future but has been linked to the world champions and other teams.
Wurz, who was classified in third place for McLaren at Imola last year in a one-off appearance as a stand-in for the injured Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, was a Formula One regular with Benetton from 1997 to 2000.
The 32-year-old moved from McLaren, where he had also been a test driver, to Williams this year and was delighted to be returning to racing.
"My natural habitat is racing, so I couldn't be happier to have received Williams' vote of confidence for this job," he declared in a statement before the weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix.
Team boss Frank Williams, who denied last weekend that Wurz had a clause in his testing contract guaranteeing him a race seat, talked up his driver choice as part of the 'cornerstones of a competitive team' being put in place.
The team announced a new three-year engine deal with Toyota last week.
"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... practice session," said Williams.
"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."
Wurz made an instant impression as a rookie with Benetton in 1997 when he finished third in only his third grand prix but Williams represents his last chance of a comeback after being passed over by other teams in recent years.
Williams said confirming Rosberg was an easy decision to make and also praised Webber for his contribution.
"He has shown great promise so far in his debut season and I know he will build on this with every race," said the team owner of Rosberg.
"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 had an option to continue with Webber, who joined from Jaguar in 2003, for two more seasons but let it lapse on Monday.
The Australian had hinted strongly that the stumbling point was money, with Williams having to pay him significantly more under the terms of the deal.
Original source: www.cnn.com/2006/SPORT/08/02/f1.williams/index.html?section=cnn_latest
Wednesday, August 2, 2006; Posted: 2:19 p.m. EDT (18:19 GMT)
Wurz (left) will replace Webber (right) in the Williams line-up for 2007.
BUDAPEST, Hungary -- Austrian test driver Alexander Wurz will replace Australian Mark Webber in the Williams line-up next season -- the Formula One team have announced.
Germany's Nico Rosberg, son of 1982 world champion Keke, will remain with the British-based team after an impressive rookie season.
Webber, managed by Renault team boss Flavio Briatore, faces an uncertain future but has been linked to the world champions and other teams.
Wurz, who was classified in third place for McLaren at Imola last year in a one-off appearance as a stand-in for the injured Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, was a Formula One regular with Benetton from 1997 to 2000.
The 32-year-old moved from McLaren, where he had also been a test driver, to Williams this year and was delighted to be returning to racing.
"My natural habitat is racing, so I couldn't be happier to have received Williams' vote of confidence for this job," he declared in a statement before the weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix.
Team boss Frank Williams, who denied last weekend that Wurz had a clause in his testing contract guaranteeing him a race seat, talked up his driver choice as part of the 'cornerstones of a competitive team' being put in place.
The team announced a new three-year engine deal with Toyota last week.
"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... practice session," said Williams.
"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."
Wurz made an instant impression as a rookie with Benetton in 1997 when he finished third in only his third grand prix but Williams represents his last chance of a comeback after being passed over by other teams in recent years.
Williams said confirming Rosberg was an easy decision to make and also praised Webber for his contribution.
"He has shown great promise so far in his debut season and I know he will build on this with every race," said the team owner of Rosberg.
"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 had an option to continue with Webber, who joined from Jaguar in 2003, for two more seasons but let it lapse on Monday.
The Australian had hinted strongly that the stumbling point was money, with Williams having to pay him significantly more under the terms of the deal.
Original source: www.cnn.com/2006/SPORT/08/02/f1.williams/index.html?section=cnn_latest
