Mark Webber discusses Monza prospects
Australia’s Mark Webber of Red Bull is approaching this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza with caution and deliberation, as he sits on the brink of his first Formula One title. The 34-year-old, who currently ranks second at 179 points in the Driver’s Championship, stresses the difficulty that the old circuit will present for his car.
In an interview with BBC Three Counties Radio, the driver observed, “It's probably not the track we'd choose to go and have 17 races at, but we don't, we have one. We can still get some good points there and take the fight to the other fast teams.” Team-mate Sebastian Vettel, who has won several pole positions but few victories this season, is adamant that the Red Bulls will take advantage of the track despite the technical difficulties. “The key factors are low drag and good braking stability. I think it won’t be easy for us, due to the long straights, but I’m sure we will do our best and keep fighting until the end,” says the German, according to formula1.com.
Yet the track alone isn’t the only issue, with the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button of McLaren competing, and Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso – all hungry for the title. For the McLarens especially, the track is more suitable, and Webber is well aware of this. “McLaren, Ferrari and Renault could be strong with Robert [Kubica] and Force India too,” Webber anticipates. “We've certainly got a bit of a buffer but that can change, but I'm not planning on it changing too much. I'd rather have the points than not have them, so it's up to those guys to catch up.”
Red Bull will not have too much to worry about, however. The team has put together a formidably quick car this season, and Webber is fired up about capitalizing on its technical abilities as well as his own. At a benefit event for Superleague Formula racer Chris van der Drift, a determined Webber declared, “There's still more to come, we're hungry for the championship and there's more development to come in the pipeline.”
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