Webber: F1 must learn from rain chaos

The Australian, who eventually qualified second on the grid for Sunday's race and who is considered one of F1's stronger wet weather racers, was critical of the stewards' decision to allow qualifying to begin when the conditions were most difficult in Q1 and Q2.

"I don't think it was the right thing to probably start in those conditions, every driver I spoke to was of the same opinion, fortunately the right decision was made in the end, but TV drives things and we have to start," he said.

The second part of qualifying was stopped when Vitantonio Liuzzi aquaplaned in to the pit wall and crashed heavily.

Webber, who was one of the drivers advocating the abandonment of the wet Chinese Grand Prix earlier this year, added that the sport is beginning to understand when modern F1 cars move out of an acceptable operating window in wet conditions.

"You cannot have a car losing control in the last sector [at Interlagos], you have to have a chance to control the cars, which means accidents will be less. The standing water was massive and visibility was a big thing, we have learned today when to drive and not to, they are not street cars, they are F1 cars, they are quick and low to the ground and they go off quick when the conditions go wrong.

"I am sure they have learned a bit upstairs today."

Webber added that he was pleased with his own performance in qualifying having survived the chaos to engage in a late duel for pole with Rubens Barrichello.

"It was a very tricky session especially the first one, both for Seb (Vettel) and I. The car was tricky in the wet heavy conditions, we scraped through just, and when track came back I was much more competitive. We knew inters would come into play at the back part of qualifying. At first I thought it was not too comfortable, but the grip came and I saw I was going in the top three.

"I would have liked to have a crack at the end but I made a mistake. I am happy with the job I did, as Rubens said, it was difficult to know what to do, congratulations to Rubens on pole at home, and we will give him a race tomorrow.

"I am happy to be starting on front row, Suzuka was the only time this year I felt I missed a big opportunity, other races not quick enough or the drive through in Spa."

Webber's team-mate Sebastian Vettel will start 16th on the grid, and asked whether he would consider compromising his own race to assist the German's championship challenge, the Australian responded: "At the start I will back off and pull off straight away!

"I doubt the situation will arise, how we can help each other," he added. "To do a normal GP is difficult enough to get all the ducks lined up, with the exception of Turkey we have never been together on the track."