AUTOSPORT: Minardi set to announce Webber - tomorrow?

LucaBadoer · 27 Jan 2002, 16:51 (Ref:205367)

Formula 3000 frontrunner Mark Webber is this week expected to be announced as Minardi's new driver - maybe as early as tomorrow (Monday).

The Australian, who finished second to Justin Wilson in last year's Formula 3000 International Championship, has impressed the team in recent tests.

Webber was Benetton's tester last year and remains a Renault-contracted driver for 2002. The French manufacturer's Formula 1 team boss Flavio Briatore hinted at the team's launch in Paris today (Sunday) that an announcement from Minardi is imminent.

If he does land the drive, Webber will be joining forces with fellow Aussie Paul Stoddart for the second time in his career. Stoddart ran him in F3000 back in 2000 before he bought up Minardi, and is known to be a fan of the ex-Super Nova ace.

Nicholas · 27 Jan 2002, 16:57 (Ref:205372)

If this doesn't happen I will go mad! This is something like the 4th time Webber's been "to be confirmed- in the future" by the media.

LucaBadoer · 27 Jan 2002, 17:17 (Ref:205388)

If Prost GP finally do fold; and Verstappen has the Arrows drive; and Webber goes to Minardi...

...We've got the line-up sorted - but with no drive for Frentzen...

nicker less · 27 Jan 2002, 17:22 (Ref:205391)

It's about time Marks got a drive in F1.

Shame no drive for Justin Wilson, whats he up to next year?

Aussie 05 · 27 Jan 2002, 17:31 (Ref:205398)

Oh excellent, that is good news. However i don't think Webber is that amazing. If the car is not flying he's off the pace. He doesn't seem to pull the goods out of the bag when he needs to. But anyway i hope he does well and ofcourse he is good, although i felt he let the F3000 title slip through his hands, he never really seemed to get his act together.

But its great to have a proper competitve Aussie back in F1 its been to long. I bet Wilson is p*ssed off as what will he be doing next year, isn't he gona try and get a run in the US or something.

GO WEBBER!!!!

Jeez i sound like im phsczafrenic (how the hell do you spell it) one minute im for Webber next im bagging him, so my final point is. That im all for having Webber in F1!

See ya

LucaBadoer · 27 Jan 2002, 17:38 (Ref:205400)

Quote:

Originally posted by Aussie 05
If the car is not flying he's off the pace.

A comment about someone who might be racing for Minardi next season....

Nicholas · 27 Jan 2002, 18:03 (Ref:205413)

If Prost folds Frentzen or Verstappen will drive at Minardi depending on who Arrows likes the look of, and Webber will have to wait another year or two. Well, that's what I think anyway.

Aussie 05 · 27 Jan 2002, 22:18 (Ref:205517)

Yeah Luca in know what you mean. Hopefully he may be able to keep it off the back row of the grid a few times. Get a few decent results would be nice.

mac · 27 Jan 2002, 22:27 (Ref:205524)

We're still hoping! C'mon Paul, give it to the guy with the talent.

For a guy who's not quick, some of his testing times in recent weeks have been impressive. I reckon Webber would be quicker than Verstappen anyway.

Also, Mark was helping develop the new car at his last test, surely this is a good sign. Plus, Mark is a good development driver. Mike Gascoyne thinks so. And Mark can be legitimately credited with helping to improve Benetton's form last year.

Mr V · 27 Jan 2002, 22:31 (Ref:205527)

Quote:

Originally posted by mac
For a guy who's not quick, some of his testing times in recent weeks have been impressive. I reckon Webber would be quicker than Verstappen anyway.

sounds like a certain enrique bernoldi too!

Valve Bounce · 27 Jan 2002, 23:43 (Ref:205568)

Quote:

Originally posted by Aussie 05

Jeez i sound like im phsczafrenic (how the hell do you spell it) one minute im for Webber next im bagging him, so my final point is. That im all for having Webber in F1!

See ya

You must be a Collingwood supporter

:confused:

f1manoz · 28 Jan 2002, 05:14 (Ref:205650)

This is driving all Aussies nuts - the 'will he, won't he' saga.

For heavens sakes Paul, just announce the bloody thing!!!!

Don K · 28 Jan 2002, 06:40 (Ref:205668)

Quote:

Originally posted by mr v
sounds like a certain enrique bernoldi too!

You seem to forget that Bernoldi was slower, both in the qualifications as in the races.

M Power · 28 Jan 2002, 07:21 (Ref:205670)

watch sports tonight (tonight) there is a piece on the OZ gp about the fencing saftey and some bloke in interviewed in the pits and if you look in the background you'll see a drivers name board with WEBBERS name on it ready to be put up!!

Go Webber . 02 rookie of the year

sorry LB massa doesn't stand a chance

Splatz the Cow · 28 Jan 2002, 14:09 (Ref:205754)

Amazing! Craig Lowndes has just been announced in the TEN late news as being a test driver for Minardi possibly as soon as the end of the 2002 Melbourne GP! Bloody Incredible!!

Splatz the Cow · 28 Jan 2002, 14:16 (Ref:205755)

Sorry. Couldn't help myself. All the Ausies will recognise this Webber situatuion is maybe very similar to one with Aussie Craig Lowndes changing from Holden to Ford and all of the media wrangling that went with it.

Sorry guys, but Webbers not in F1 - until you see him not just on the grid, but pull away from it.

LucaBadoer · 28 Jan 2002, 15:01 (Ref:205769)

Quote:

Originally posted by M Power
Go Webber . 02 rookie of the year

sorry LB massa doesn't stand a chance

At least Felipe has got himself a race drive

Valve Bounce · 29 Jan 2002, 07:12 (Ref:206139)

This is great news for the Aussis. I am surprised about Craig Lowndes. I'll check the reports just to make sure this is fair dinkum.

nreed · 30 Jan 2002, 17:23 (Ref:206643)

webbers done alot of racing and id say hes got the experience to go for it with minardi, but i do agree with some of the comments about his focus. He's young and minardi needs another newbie to do well ( alonso ), if weber gives it his all and minardi are a little stronger, maybe there will be apoint available this year.

Mr V · 30 Jan 2002, 17:27 (Ref:206646)

Quote:

Originally posted by Don K
You seem to forget that Bernoldi was slower, both in the qualifications as in the races.

really??......did you do maths at school cos i always thought that 10 (bernoldi) was greater than 7 (verstappen) in qualifying??

Don K · 30 Jan 2002, 19:42 (Ref:206778)

Quote:

Don K
You seem to forget that Bernoldi was slower, both in the qualifications as in the races.

Quote:

Originally posted by mr v
really??

Yes!

Quote:

Originally posted by mr v
......did you do maths at school

Yes, I did, And that's non of your bussiness!!!

Quote:

Originally posted by mr v
cos i always thought that 10 (bernoldi) was greater than 7 (verstappen) in qualifying??

Yes. So Bernoldi beat Jos in qualifying, just like any other teammate (except Rosset) did. But that doesn't make him faster than Jos.
To determine who was faster, you just have to add up all their qualifying times.
Or if you prefer, you can add up all their qualifying differences...

Speedworx · 30 Jan 2002, 19:47 (Ref:206786)

Bernoldi is a better driver than Jos, why else would be beat in every weekend?

This is why Enrique has an Arrows seat for 2002 and Jos doesn't.

nreed · 30 Jan 2002, 19:55 (Ref:206799)

jos is hands down a better racer than bernoldi. did bernoldi score a point? did he run in second at malaysia? did he slice through the pack in the actual races? no! If you dont finish well, you may as well not even qualify.

Speedworx · 30 Jan 2002, 20:12 (Ref:206819)

Bernoldi had a car which lasted 2 laps ealry in the season. Only after the team had run out of steam towards the end, did he had a reliable car.

Jos will be out and HHF in.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Webber and Minardi get Fifth!!! Oh and TGF Wins.	EERO	Formula One	39	3 Mar 2002 14:47
Webber to Minardi!	FullMonty	Formula One	25	31 Jan 2002 22:46
Mark Webber to KL Minardi Asiatech...	LucaBadoer	Formula One	23	15 Jan 2002 08:31
www.f1.on.net: Minardi Denies Webber Deal	ozrevhead	Formula One	7	23 Nov 2001 11:50
Happy Birthday Minardi PART II: the greatest Minardi driver of all time	Tristan	Formula One	23	24 Apr 2001 21:29