ID :
70184
Mon, 07/13/2009 - 19:28
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/70184
The shortlink copeid
Emotional Webber proves doubters wrong
Mark Webber has declared himself a serious contender for the Formula One
championship after his long-awaited triumph in Germany.
After taking out his maiden grand prix at his 130th attempt the 32-year-old Red Bull
racer proclaimed the series there for the taking.
Overcoming a drive-through penalty for bumping Brawn's Rubens Barrichello at the
start, Webber clawed his way back into the lead, his comprehensive win at
motorsport's famed Nurburgring hiking him up the drivers' points standings.
He is now third in the title race with 45.5 points behind Brawn driver Jenson Button
on 68 and Red Bull teammate Sebastian Vettel on 47.
Eight races remain with ten points for a win.
Brawn dominated the first half of the season, from their one-two at the
season-opening Australian Grand Prix, but there is now a sense that Red Bull are on
the rise.
Button has won six races while Vettel has won twice and Webber once.
But Red Bull have won the past two, with Vettel seizing the British GP and Webber
taking the flag in Germany.
The Australian was runner-up this year in China, Turkey and England and also nabbed
a podium with third place in Spain.
And there is discontent in the Brawn camp with Rubens Barrichello hitting out at the
team's mismanagement of the race strategy in an extraordinary outburst.
Webber said he now believed that, despite the gap to Button, the championship fight
has now been thrown wide open again.
"They are both still up for grabs," Webber said.
"Brawn are leading the constructors', which they deserve to be, but we are not
giving up, pushing as hard as we can to be consistent.
"The biggest problem at the factory is building a trophy cabinet, the hard work is
being paid off.
"We love fighting against teams like Ferrari and McLaren, so to take the fight to
the big boys is a big credit for us."
Webber became only the third Australian to win a grand prix after triple world
champion Sir Jack Brabham and Alan Jones.
His win was the first by an Australian since Jones won in Las Vegas in 1981.
Jones said he was "absolutely delighted" with Webber's breakthrough result.
"To see Mark win his first Grand Prix and be one of only three Australians who have
done so is just great, hopefully he can become the third Australian to win a world
championship in the near future," Jones said on the Gold Coast on Monday.
"Mark has been in something like 130 grand prix and while he has led races in the
past hasn't been able to convert it, often through no fault of his own, so it is
great to see him breakthrough for the win.
"I am sure it isn't going to be the last, and it will give him a big confidence
boost for the rest of the year."
Webber described it as "an incredible day for me."
"I wanted to win so badly after Silverstone. I thought I had a good chance there.
"After pole I knew I was in a good position to win the race, I thought the only
thing that could beat me or test me even more was the rain, but that held off."
Webber's win came after a long and difficult close season after he broke his leg and
a shoulder in a cycling accident.
Victory was not straightforward.
"I lost Rubens off the start, I thought he had gone to the left, but he went right
and I banged into him. I had a drive-through (penalty) and my engineer kept me
calm," said Webber.
"It was a difficult winter. Sebastian showed in winter testing what the car could
do, so I kept my motivation high and I was hurting a lot. The team had patience with
me - so did everyone in Australia.
"There were a few people who doubted me, too, so hello to them as well.
"So thank you to everyone who helped me here."
Barrichello, who jumped Webber on pole to lead into the first corner admitted the
Brawns were no match.
"We didn't have enough pace compared to the Red Bulls to win," he said.
Button, who won six of the first seven races, said they were anxiously awaiting
upgrades for the Hungarian Grand Prix to try to get back on terms with Red Bull.
"I now can't wait to get to Hungary in two weeks when we will have new parts and
hopefully warmer weather to take the fight to the Red Bulls," Button said.
championship after his long-awaited triumph in Germany.
After taking out his maiden grand prix at his 130th attempt the 32-year-old Red Bull
racer proclaimed the series there for the taking.
Overcoming a drive-through penalty for bumping Brawn's Rubens Barrichello at the
start, Webber clawed his way back into the lead, his comprehensive win at
motorsport's famed Nurburgring hiking him up the drivers' points standings.
He is now third in the title race with 45.5 points behind Brawn driver Jenson Button
on 68 and Red Bull teammate Sebastian Vettel on 47.
Eight races remain with ten points for a win.
Brawn dominated the first half of the season, from their one-two at the
season-opening Australian Grand Prix, but there is now a sense that Red Bull are on
the rise.
Button has won six races while Vettel has won twice and Webber once.
But Red Bull have won the past two, with Vettel seizing the British GP and Webber
taking the flag in Germany.
The Australian was runner-up this year in China, Turkey and England and also nabbed
a podium with third place in Spain.
And there is discontent in the Brawn camp with Rubens Barrichello hitting out at the
team's mismanagement of the race strategy in an extraordinary outburst.
Webber said he now believed that, despite the gap to Button, the championship fight
has now been thrown wide open again.
"They are both still up for grabs," Webber said.
"Brawn are leading the constructors', which they deserve to be, but we are not
giving up, pushing as hard as we can to be consistent.
"The biggest problem at the factory is building a trophy cabinet, the hard work is
being paid off.
"We love fighting against teams like Ferrari and McLaren, so to take the fight to
the big boys is a big credit for us."
Webber became only the third Australian to win a grand prix after triple world
champion Sir Jack Brabham and Alan Jones.
His win was the first by an Australian since Jones won in Las Vegas in 1981.
Jones said he was "absolutely delighted" with Webber's breakthrough result.
"To see Mark win his first Grand Prix and be one of only three Australians who have
done so is just great, hopefully he can become the third Australian to win a world
championship in the near future," Jones said on the Gold Coast on Monday.
"Mark has been in something like 130 grand prix and while he has led races in the
past hasn't been able to convert it, often through no fault of his own, so it is
great to see him breakthrough for the win.
"I am sure it isn't going to be the last, and it will give him a big confidence
boost for the rest of the year."
Webber described it as "an incredible day for me."
"I wanted to win so badly after Silverstone. I thought I had a good chance there.
"After pole I knew I was in a good position to win the race, I thought the only
thing that could beat me or test me even more was the rain, but that held off."
Webber's win came after a long and difficult close season after he broke his leg and
a shoulder in a cycling accident.
Victory was not straightforward.
"I lost Rubens off the start, I thought he had gone to the left, but he went right
and I banged into him. I had a drive-through (penalty) and my engineer kept me
calm," said Webber.
"It was a difficult winter. Sebastian showed in winter testing what the car could
do, so I kept my motivation high and I was hurting a lot. The team had patience with
me - so did everyone in Australia.
"There were a few people who doubted me, too, so hello to them as well.
"So thank you to everyone who helped me here."
Barrichello, who jumped Webber on pole to lead into the first corner admitted the
Brawns were no match.
"We didn't have enough pace compared to the Red Bulls to win," he said.
Button, who won six of the first seven races, said they were anxiously awaiting
upgrades for the Hungarian Grand Prix to try to get back on terms with Red Bull.
"I now can't wait to get to Hungary in two weeks when we will have new parts and
hopefully warmer weather to take the fight to the Red Bulls," Button said.
