Australian believes team-mate can be caught in title race
Last Updated: August 26, 2011 8:53am
Webber: End of Vettel dominance
Mark Webber says Red Bull team-mate Sebastien Vettel should not rest on his laurels despite entering the second half of the season with an 85-point lead.
Vettel dominated the early part of the season, winning five of the first six grands prix and finishing second in the other.
However, the German has been reeled in by McLaren and Ferrari, winning just one of the last five races.
But it is Webber who is his closest pursuer in the championship despite not taking the chequered flag this season, and the Australian is hoping to capitalise on Vettel's loss of dominance.
"In terms of having five, six or seven wins on the bounce, that's over," said Webber, ahead of this weekend's return to action with the Belgian Grand Prix at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit.
"That is not going to happen. I think it will be more spread out. It will be the same customers, the usual suspects, the normal guys winning, and I am looking at getting involved as well.
"I wouldn't just rely on someone dominating. There are eight races to go, Seb is in a great position but it is not completely comfortable yet."
Interesting
McLaren's Jenson Button sits 100 points behind Vettel in fifth place but has not yet ruled himself out of contention, and hopes the German will not be content to sit on his overall lead.
"It will be interesting to see his way of thinking over the next few races," said the Briton. "He says he wants to go all out and win them all, which is great. That's exactly what we want, so hopefully that will be the case for the whole season.
"But whether you are just picking up points or going for wins, both attitudes can lead to mistakes. When it gets to you, we will see what happens.
"I watched the last race of last year on the tv the other day when Fernando led by 15 points before the start of that race, and he lost the championship to Sebastian.
"I was like 'wow!' It shows that when things are tough, or you are trying to hold a lead, it can be quite difficult if you think about it too much. So I don't know, we'll see."
And while Button admits his chances of championship glory are slim, he is confident that the next two races at Spa and Monza will suit the McLaren.
"For me to win the championship there is a very slim chance, but it's still a chance so I'll give it a go," added Button.
"But given our pace in the last couple of races we should be very happy with ourselves, and we bring that to this race.
"And if you're quick here then you are going to be quick in Monza (for the Italian Grand Prix next month) as well.
"So if you can pick up maximum points and gain points on Seb, that's two races done and six to go.
"I don't know, we'll see. I think he can be beaten, but it's going to be tough."
Credit: Sky Sports (www.skysports.com)
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