Fastest Qualifying Lap Gives Webber Hope

Local hero Australian Mark Webber clocked the fastest time in second qualifying for the season opening Australian Grand Prix on Sunday morning, but it was not enough to lift him above third place on the grid.

He said his “lucky lap” and the excellence of the BMW Williams team would give him a good chance in the 58 laps race, however.

“Well, obviously yesterday’s session determined the grid really,” said Webber.

“As we saw there were not many people who improved and you could only go backwards really today. It was a reasonable lap, we set our strategy on pole today. The balance seems okay. As Jarno said, it is a long race, first time for everyone with one set of tyres for a whole Grand Prix. We have tested in that situation, but racing is a whole different ball game. BMW Williams is a good team so we are going to see what we can do.

“I think the track ramped up a little bit during the session. Maybe not a huge amount, but definitely the quick guys that were hammered with the weather yesterday so its about 58 laps from now on so will see whose got the business. “