Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Webber determined to win a race in 2011 after difficult season

Mark Webber says he is still striving to win in 2011 and remains hopeful of challenging Sebastian Vettel in 2012, despite conceding the German has been phenomenal so far this season

While Webber was a genuine match for Vettel last year, winning four times to remain in contention for the title heading into the final round, he has been frustrated in his efforts to match his team-mate this year and is currently 127 points adrift in third.

Webber conceded that wins had been thin on the ground for the entire field given Vettel's dominance, but said problems with tyre longevity and more recently his starts had hindered his own chances of ascending the top step.

"There's no question one guy has done too much winning this year," Webber said. "Seb [Vettel] has done a phenomenal job, and I've only led a little bit - nowhere near as much as I did last year.

"It would be good [to win], it would be nice before the end of the year. If you have one win and four DNFs it's not that good, so we still need to be consistent and do well, but when the opportunity comes, when I have a good start and a good clean first stint, that makes the race a bit more achievable.

"[The starts] are area we've continued to look at of course, it makes the race very difficult when I'm on the back foot on the first lap. My starts were better last year, this year I haven't had as good a run but it's possible to get that improved before the end of the year.

"It's beautiful to win and always satisfying to put a good weekend together and know that you've done a better job than everyone else, that's what each driver is striving for.

"The podiums are still nice, the champagne is a mini celebration and it's still not easy to get on the step, but there's a big difference between first and second."

Asked whether his 2010 charge was his last chance to win an F1 world championship, Webber said he and his crew still had work to do to catch Vettel, but were still optimistic of a title tilt in 2012.

"Last year was exceptional. It's not every year you fight for the title," Webber explained. "It is back to normal for now, but we're trying to get it to happen in the future.

"It's a bit disappointing that's what has happened this year but that's the way it has been, Seb amassed the points very quickly. We know the wins are big for the points, and if you can consistently win you do a lot of damage.

"Maybe there is a good chance [2010] might have been my last chance, but you never know. Next year we're going in and thinking positively.

"We've got some changes coming, not massive but there are some changes. It will be pretty brutal if it's the same as this year, so we have got to be optimistic and push bloody hard to make sure its not a repeat of how straight forward it was for him this year."

Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Schumacher, Rosberg welcome technical staff shake-up
Next article Setting the scene for Japan

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe