Indian GP: Mark Webber expecting closer fight in race

The Australian will line up alongside pole position man Sebastian Vettel.

Webber, who admitted he was surprised to be second on the grid having not been able to put a clean flying lap together in Q3, said afterwards that while the team has a dominant advantage in qualifying trim he expects that to be trimmed back in the race.

"I think we are pretty good on Saturdays and we've shown that in the last few events now, and Sundays," said Webber.

"But tomorrow could be a good race, I think it's going to be tighter between all of us, but I still think that we should have enough."

Webber made a mistake on his first flying lap, but that still proved to be good enough for second, while his next attempt was ruined when he got caught behind the two McLarens on his out-lap.

The two teams had different approaches to tyre preparation on their out-laps and Webber found that he was not able to get enough heat into his Pirellis in order to have enough grip for the start of his second flying lap.

"It wasn't the smoothest session for me," he said. "The lap wasn't too bad, but I got on the Astroturf a bit on the last corner so for sure I didn't have the cleanest run to the start finish line. That was disappointing, but I am driving car. I did my best, it was close.

"It was obviously a pretty tight run thing between Seb and I didn't get to do my last attempt.

"Obviously the McLarens were doing very slow out-laps to get their tyres ready for the lap - which is different to us - and I had no grip in the first sector because of the build-up lap, so I didn't get to do my second attempt which would have been nice. But anyway I was surprised to end up second and I will take that."