Mark Webber says he wants to stay with Minardi next year. The much in-demand Australian racer has been linked to seats at Toyota, Jaguar and Sauber as speculation over the driver line-ups for 2003 hits fever pitch.

However, if the Minardi team, run by fellow Australian Paul Stoddart, manages to tie down a competitive budget Webber believes it could have a strong future in Formula One™ racing - and he'd like to be part of it.

"I've got to look at things with Paul because he has first shout on me, pretty much," said Webber. "That could change but whatever happens I want to see he has got to have a win out of it if I go somewhere else. But I want to stay here.

"If Paul gets what he wants on various fronts you never know what could happen at this team. It's a great outfit."

Webber has been one of the sensations of the season, scoring two points on his home debut in Melbourne and then becoming one of the most reliable finishers this year after Michael Schumacher.

"I really could not have asked for it to have gone any better," said Webber. It's my first year and the good thing is that I've had a really reliable car. That's the one thing I need in my situation.

"If you are in Montoya's situation you can afford to have a car that packs up on you now and again but a guy in my situation you cannot afford that. The reliability of the car has been incredible and that has worked in our favour.

"Silverstone was our second non-finish of the year, which is great going. Look at the car - it was a second off the Sauber's in qualifying. It's a good little car and it is looking after me.

"With experience at Renault [as test driver] last year, I have arrived at the right time in the right circumstances. If I had arrived a few years earlier things might not have been so rosy but I'm so pleased things have worked out as they have.

"Melbourne was a great start. Monaco and Brazil, even at Silverstone until I went off it was a good race," he added.

Webber said several teams had shown interest in him for 2003: "There are a few people biting and that's a good problem to have at the moment. The market could potentially be wide open, there are so many things that could happen.

"Thinking totally selfishly, two or three seats could change - or six. What if there are three cars per team next year or the year after? Who knows."