Webber urges Williams to improve

Mark Webber has urged Williams to improve on last season’s fifth place in the constructors’ championship – despite the loss of engine partner BMW.

Williams were left looking for a new engine after BMW effectively severed their ties by buying Sauber. They have hooked up with Cosworth, but that deal costs several millions pounds a year, unlike the BMW tie-up.

Australian ace Webber remains bullish about his team’s chances though, expecting a clear indication of their prospects as soon as the season starts in Bahrain on March 12.

He said: “My goal is, of course, to finish better in the championship than this year. But it’s always the team and the driver together.

“Should we succeed as a team in being competitive right from the start, the results will automatically follow.”

Webber has a new team-mate in 2006 after Nick Heidfeld’s defection to BMW-Sauber. German youngster Nico Rosberg has graduated as GP2 champion and Webber is looking forward to the new challenge.

“Nico Rosberg is a young, highly motivated team-mate,” he added.

“He is absolutely ready to go. He had a great season in GP2 and if he is not ready, than I really don’t know who is. I’m looking forward to the battles with him.”