Webber targets early season points

Mark Webber believes Jaguar have to improve their race day performance this season if they are going to be a Formula One force to be reckoned with.

The Australian revelled in the single-shot qualifying system last year - lining up a superb third on the grid in a couple of races – but admits the team slipped back on the day it mattered.

“We restored our reputation last year and now we have the chance to move forward but we have to improve our race performances,” said Webber as he launched the R4 car and gave it a first run-out in Barcelona.

“In qualifying we did pretty well and I really enjoyed that part but you have to take that on to the race if you want to score good points and that is going to be as difficult as ever.

“The teams we are likely to be competing against – BAR, Toyota and Sauber - are going to be very strong in 2004 so we have to show them some respect and accept that they will be trying to do as good a job as us.

“We have to score more points earlier in the season. The rule allowing just one engine means that people may struggle for reliability in the first few races and we have to be ready to capitalise when those opportunities come along.

“A good start will also give us momentum throughout the year which we will need if we are to keep moving forward.”

Webber still scored 17 points last season but with the second driver only adding a solitary point the team still finished back in seventh place in the constructors’ championship.

The 27-year-old will this year be partnered by Austrian rookie Christian Klien, whom he believes will can help him move the team further up the pecking order.

“I think Christian is the real deal,” said Webber of the 20-year-old who has replaced Britain’s Justin Wilson. “He has adapted to the car incredibly quickly and that is good.

“I am very, very confident that Christian will last the season. I am not here to pump up his tyres and being quick in testing in Barcelona is one thing, it’s when you get to Canada and it has been raining and you have to go out and get a grip on the car that counts.

“But if I have a bad day hopefully he will be able to pick up the points that I missed out on as we all know the problems we had last season.

“Last year I scored all bar one of the team’s points and that killed us for the championship. We need to have two drivers regularly scoring points and Christian could be the guy to help me do that.”