23/10/2006
NEWS STORY
Having previously recorded his best result of the season, being part of a three-man team which finished second in a round of the Helly Hansen Adventure Challenge series, which took place on a 22-mile muddy course through a British army firing range in Hampshire, Mark Webber, who last week admitted that he won't look back on his time with WilliamsF1 with any fond memories, yesterday achieved another unique, if unwanted, feat.
Having been eliminated from the race on the first lap, after being hit from behind by his teammate, Nico Rosberg, Webber has the ignominious record of having been involved in incidents involving his teammate at Interlagos three years running.
In 2004 the Australian collided with Jaguar teammate Christian Klien, bringing a sad, and premature end to Jaguar Racing's F1 career. While a year later, Webber was hit by WilliamsF1 teammate Antonio Pizzonia.
Following yesterday's race, neither driver was willing to accept responsibility, Webber stating: "I braked a bit later going into turn four and then I was hit from behind. I lost the diffuser and that was that. It looks like Nico lost his braking point. He was very deep going into the corner and I didn't think he was going to make it."
While Nico saw it slightly differently: "I was close behind Mark going into the corner," said the German. "I think he braked hard and maybe an extra metre too early, perhaps because something had happened next to him, and I hit him."
Whatever, it brings a sad end to WilliamsF1's 2006 season, a year which the Grove outfit will want to forget about as quickly as possible. In addition to only scoring points on five occasions, the team had the worst reliability record of all eleven teams, recording just sixteen finishes from thirty-six starts. Of the 2274 laps that comprised the 2006 F1 season, the Grove team only completed 1331 (58%).
Nonetheless, looking ahead to 2007, when the team will have a new title sponsor (AT&T) and Toyota engines, not to mention several key additions to its design and aerodynamic departments, Patrick Head remains optimistic.
"It can only get better from here," said the Englishman, "but obviously the result is massively disappointing. This is the second year in a row in Brazil that we've been out of the race with both cars before the end of the first lap and it is really disappointing for everyone in the team. We can now only go back and make sure we have a much better car and look forward to a stronger season next year."
Next season, Webber partners David Coulthard at Red Bull.