Webber: Wilson has to toughen up
author: Hendrik Verwoerd
Mark Webber has welcomed his Minardi replacement, Justin Wilson, to the F1 fraternity, but has warned him that he needs to be tough if he hopes to survive.
Webber and Wilson know one another having competed together in F3000. Wilson won the series in 2001, while Webber claimed second place. However it was Webber who first got the breakthrough into F1 - testing for Renault, driving for Minardi and now for Jaguar.
"I'm really pleased that Justin got his chance this year, but I do worry for him because F1 can rip the spine out of you," Webber told the Sunday Mirror.
"Justin's a really nice, gentle guy, but that can work against him in Formula One. It's a tough place and he could be too nice - too naive - to cope with it. He'll need to be tough to come through it because it's not just about the racing in F1. I just hope he can handle all the other stuff and show people what he can do."
Wilson meanwhile has said that he is delighted that fellow Brit Ralph Firman will be joining him on the F1 grid this season. Both drivers are taller than the average F1 driver, and Wilson believes it's about time teams started giving tall drivers a fair chance.
"It's good to have Ralph, because it's another boost for Britain. But I'm also pleased because he's another tall guy, six foot plus. The more of us there are, the better," he said.
Wilson and Firman's arrival brings the number of British drivers competing in F1 this season back up to four after the loss of Irvine and McNish. Wilson is hopeful that the four of them can highlight British talent and pave the way for other British drivers to enter F1 as they have often struggled in the past to find the necessary funds.
"We tended to find it difficult in this country to get sponsorship and, down the years, we've seen a lot of Europeans and South Americans come through because of their support," he said. "British drivers have certainly got the ability and fortunately two more of us now have the chance to show what we can do."
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