If what we hear is true, Mark Webber has to win this weekend's United States Grand Prix with McLaren failing to score any points, if Jaguar is to have any hope of retaining the Australian for 2005.

It's understood that Webber's contract with the Milton Keynes outfit, drawn up by manager Flavio Briatore, dictates that Jaguar must be in the top six at mid-point in the season.

With Indianapolis being the ninth round, of eighteen, the United States GP is mid-way through the 2004 Championship.

Although it's quite possible that pending the arrival of its MP4-19B, and looking at its previous form this season, McLaren won't add to its points tally, it is highly unlikely that Webber or indeed his teammate, Christian Klien, will be standing on the top step of the podium on Sunday afternoon.

Jaguar currently lies ninth in the Constructors' Championship, with three points, courtesy of Webber's eighth in Bahrain and seventh at the Nurburgring.

Of course, with Jordan on five points and Toyota on four, it's possible that even if Mark or his teammate should pull off a miracle, the Ford-owned outfit could still miss out on sixth spot.

Then again, it's widely believed that Webber's move to WilliamsF1 is already done and that this weekend's result will simply give the Australian the exit clause he requires.