Webber can still be a winner, says Jones

By Alan Baldwin

LONDON (Reuters) - Former world champion Alan Jones said on Friday he was still backing Red Bull's Mark Webber to end Australia's long wait for a grand prix winner.

"I think Mark Webber will win a grand prix, I think he's capable of winning a grand prix," the 1980 world champion and last Australian to win a Formula One race told Reuters in a telephone interview.

"He needs to have a bit of luck go his way, although it's a bit silly to say that," added the 61-year-old, in Britain as Australian team director for the final round of the A1 GP series at Brands Hatch on Sunday.

"I can always remember (Formula One supremo) Bernie Ecclestone being asked about a driver many years ago and they said 'listen, you should give him a go -- he's a bloody good driver, he just has bad luck'.

"Bernie turned around to the bloke and said 'well, who needs a driver with bad luck?'"

Webber has had his fair share of bad luck over the seasons, notably in last year's rain-hit Japanese Grand Prix where he was in second place until Toro Rosso's Sebastian Vettel ran into the back of him.

Until he finished third with Williams at Monaco in 2005, fifth place with Minardi in his home debut in 2002 remained Webber's best result.

However the Australian has been consistently strong in qualifying with his various teams and last weekend in Spain finished fifth for his best result since last July's third place at the Nuerburgring.