Mark Webber Q&A: I want to get the job done
Red Bull’s Mark Webber is remarkably relaxed for a man about to take part in the most important race weekend of his career. The permutations which could see Webber wrap up the the 2010 drivers’ championship seem endless, but for the Australian himself there’s one clear aim - win the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The rest depends on the other title contenders...
Q: Do you like the Abu Dhabi track?
Mark Webber: Yes, it is pretty good. It is not like Silverstone, which means that it hasn’t got many fast corners. As a result I really have to be at the top of my game for the slow-speed corners. It’s probably not 100 percent to my liking - but that’s the way it is. The car feels very good and that is important. So my impression is that I can do very well here, which is crucial, isn’t it!
Q: Are you worried about what engine to use?
MW: From the engine side it should be okay. This morning we were running the Brazil engine then in between the sessions we made a change, and for the race on Sunday I will use a different one again. Probably the Suzuka engine.
Q: Why should you walk away with the title on Sunday?
MW: Because I am the oldest! (Laughs) Why not! I think that it is about time to have a decision because my feeling is that we could have two or three more races without a clear title claimant. We all have led the championship at one point in the season, but the important thing is to be in the lead after the last race. I think that I have a pretty good chance and Fernando (Alonso) has a bit of a better chance.
Q: Would you say it is better to win the championship with team orders, rather than lose it without team orders?
MW: I think it is best to win the championship because in a little while from now people wouldn’t remember about any team orders. They only remember the winner. There have been many championships won in the past with team orders and there will be many more in the future. That’s the way it is in Formula One.
Q: What chance do you think you have?
MW: At the end of the day it is a question of the car. And then, in that case, what can you do! It is like when you’re running but your heart rate is too high and you still want to go faster. That doesn’t work - so what can you do! There is nothing left to do and you cannot change it. I am ready to go and I know that I can perform at a really good level this Sunday.
Q: How important was it to win the constructors’ championship?
MW: It was fantastic. I have been with this team for so many years and there have been so many crucial moments over the last few years, like David Coulthard getting Adrian Newey on board and so on and so forth. It has been a pretty big thing ever since it started and this year we won ahead of the Ferraris and the McLarens. Probably for them it wouldn’t be so important because they have so many titles under their belts, but for us it is really great and was an important step, as they don’t hand out championship titles that easy! It was great that we have achieved that.
Q: So from your side, you’ve won 50 percent of what you hoped to achieve. What about the other 50 percent - the drivers’ title?
MW: It is even less than 50 percent for me. The reality is that people remember the drivers’ championship more. That is the one that remains in people’s minds. The constructors’ title is something for the team and it’s a real feather in the cap.
Q: Everyone seems to be puzzling about whether Sebastian Vettel will let you pass, but isn’t that somehow missing the point? You need to go out and get it yourself…
MW: Yes, everybody is talking about positions. But what if I am leading the race!
Q: So will that be your tactic?
MW: Absolutely. I am trying to win the race. So there are no discussions. But if Fernando is second he’s still the champion!
Q: If things turn out like they did in Brazil, with Vettel ahead of you and Alonso behind you, what do you think will happen?
MW: I need to pass Seb. Obviously we don’t want another Turkey situation do we? As I just said the best situation is if I lead the whole race and win. And if this is not going to happen then we will see. It is a long race and the engines are on the limit.
Q: This season finale is a real marathon with two races within a week. How have you prepared yourself and what have you done to keep fit over the last few days?
MW: I have been here since the beginning of the week. I flew out from Brazil the night after the race and did a little training, but I have done quite a number of races in my career so I am ready to go. I am pretty relaxed. I just feel like I want to get in the car and get the job done!
Q: Are you thinking this could be your last shot at the drivers’ title?
MW: No. I am not wasting any thought on thinking that. I am not too stressed about that. I am just very satisfied that I am in the situation I am in now. The team is fantastic and we have come a long way. We have already pocketed the constructors’ title and now the drivers’ would be the icing on the cake.
Q: If you don’t win the title, who is your preferred champion? Lewis Hamilton, Alonso or your team mate?
MW: I think we all deserve it in lots of different ways. Seb has driven very, very well but had some reliability problems. Fernando probably didn’t have the car but is still in the fight. I think we all deserve the chance and it is impossible to say who deserves it over the others. It sure would be great for the team to win both titles in one year, so I would prefer Seb to win for the team.
Q: Will you and Vettel discuss the situation?
MW: I don’t know. Let’s wait until after qualifying. If I am on pole there is not much to talk about. If Seb is in front - then maybe!
Q: What about Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz saying that team orders are not an option?
MW: I think it is fine. This has been a philosophy all year and this was good for the fans. The team’s position has been clear all the way. It sure made it a bit easier for Ferrari, but that’s what has happened.
Q: So who will be champion?
MW: Who knows! Sunday - after the race - we will all wiser.
Q: Do you like the Abu Dhabi track?
Mark Webber: Yes, it is pretty good. It is not like Silverstone, which means that it hasn’t got many fast corners. As a result I really have to be at the top of my game for the slow-speed corners. It’s probably not 100 percent to my liking - but that’s the way it is. The car feels very good and that is important. So my impression is that I can do very well here, which is crucial, isn’t it!
Q: Are you worried about what engine to use?
MW: From the engine side it should be okay. This morning we were running the Brazil engine then in between the sessions we made a change, and for the race on Sunday I will use a different one again. Probably the Suzuka engine.
Q: Why should you walk away with the title on Sunday?
MW: Because I am the oldest! (Laughs) Why not! I think that it is about time to have a decision because my feeling is that we could have two or three more races without a clear title claimant. We all have led the championship at one point in the season, but the important thing is to be in the lead after the last race. I think that I have a pretty good chance and Fernando (Alonso) has a bit of a better chance.
Q: Would you say it is better to win the championship with team orders, rather than lose it without team orders?
MW: I think it is best to win the championship because in a little while from now people wouldn’t remember about any team orders. They only remember the winner. There have been many championships won in the past with team orders and there will be many more in the future. That’s the way it is in Formula One.
Q: What chance do you think you have?
MW: At the end of the day it is a question of the car. And then, in that case, what can you do! It is like when you’re running but your heart rate is too high and you still want to go faster. That doesn’t work - so what can you do! There is nothing left to do and you cannot change it. I am ready to go and I know that I can perform at a really good level this Sunday.
Q: How important was it to win the constructors’ championship?
MW: It was fantastic. I have been with this team for so many years and there have been so many crucial moments over the last few years, like David Coulthard getting Adrian Newey on board and so on and so forth. It has been a pretty big thing ever since it started and this year we won ahead of the Ferraris and the McLarens. Probably for them it wouldn’t be so important because they have so many titles under their belts, but for us it is really great and was an important step, as they don’t hand out championship titles that easy! It was great that we have achieved that.
Q: So from your side, you’ve won 50 percent of what you hoped to achieve. What about the other 50 percent - the drivers’ title?
MW: It is even less than 50 percent for me. The reality is that people remember the drivers’ championship more. That is the one that remains in people’s minds. The constructors’ title is something for the team and it’s a real feather in the cap.
Q: Everyone seems to be puzzling about whether Sebastian Vettel will let you pass, but isn’t that somehow missing the point? You need to go out and get it yourself…
MW: Yes, everybody is talking about positions. But what if I am leading the race!
Q: So will that be your tactic?
MW: Absolutely. I am trying to win the race. So there are no discussions. But if Fernando is second he’s still the champion!
Q: If things turn out like they did in Brazil, with Vettel ahead of you and Alonso behind you, what do you think will happen?
MW: I need to pass Seb. Obviously we don’t want another Turkey situation do we? As I just said the best situation is if I lead the whole race and win. And if this is not going to happen then we will see. It is a long race and the engines are on the limit.
Q: This season finale is a real marathon with two races within a week. How have you prepared yourself and what have you done to keep fit over the last few days?
MW: I have been here since the beginning of the week. I flew out from Brazil the night after the race and did a little training, but I have done quite a number of races in my career so I am ready to go. I am pretty relaxed. I just feel like I want to get in the car and get the job done!
Q: Are you thinking this could be your last shot at the drivers’ title?
MW: No. I am not wasting any thought on thinking that. I am not too stressed about that. I am just very satisfied that I am in the situation I am in now. The team is fantastic and we have come a long way. We have already pocketed the constructors’ title and now the drivers’ would be the icing on the cake.
Q: If you don’t win the title, who is your preferred champion? Lewis Hamilton, Alonso or your team mate?
MW: I think we all deserve it in lots of different ways. Seb has driven very, very well but had some reliability problems. Fernando probably didn’t have the car but is still in the fight. I think we all deserve the chance and it is impossible to say who deserves it over the others. It sure would be great for the team to win both titles in one year, so I would prefer Seb to win for the team.
Q: Will you and Vettel discuss the situation?
MW: I don’t know. Let’s wait until after qualifying. If I am on pole there is not much to talk about. If Seb is in front - then maybe!
Q: What about Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz saying that team orders are not an option?
MW: I think it is fine. This has been a philosophy all year and this was good for the fans. The team’s position has been clear all the way. It sure made it a bit easier for Ferrari, but that’s what has happened.
Q: So who will be champion?
MW: Who knows! Sunday - after the race - we will all wiser.
Credit: Formula One Administration Ltd (http://www.formula1.com)
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