Mark Webber earns belated Birthday present with Belgium Pole
Red Bull Racing’s Mark Webber stormed to pole position at this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix qualifying session amidst tricky weather conditions at the Spa-Francorchamps track. The Australian driver, who currently leads the championship standings, is looking to consolidate his advantage this Sunday. Webber said it was important not to get carried away with today’s result, elaborating that it was simply too early to talk about his championship prospects. The down to earth Aussie told the press he would ponder over the matter when there were only two races left to the season’s conclusion.
The tough talking Red Bull protagonist celebrated his 34th birthday this Friday, and a win tomorrow will be a perfect belated birthday present. Webber’s team mate, Vettel, however, professed he had not known it was the Aussie’s birthday, casually remarking he had not bought a present for Webber. Relationships between the two team partners have been at best strained, particularly after the highly publicized episode in Turkey which saw both men collide into each other in an overtaking attempt on the Turkish Grand Prix race day. The clash saw Vettel retiring from the Turkish Grand Prix, and the Red Bull team losing valuable championship points that any team in the title contention can ill afford to lose.
Yet the Turkish episode was far from the end for the Vettel-Webber rivalry. Only weeks later, the two men locked horns again at the British Grand Prix when it became known Vettel was being supplied with superior equipment to his team mate.
In the post-qualifying press conference in Belgium, Webber said there was no doubt he was eager to add a world championship title to his name. But, the down-to-earth Aussie continued, that all sportsmen were capable of dealing with, and getting over disappointments. Should Mark Webber go on to win the 2010 drivers’ title, he will go down in the history books as only the 3rd Australian to be crowned a Formula One world champion.
It has been 8 years since Webber made his debut into Formula One with the Minardi team. Now, he stands at the top spot in the battle for the 2010 drivers’ title. Yet, this fact, coupled with the knowledge Webber has won more Grands Prix this season than any of the other drivers on grid has still not succeeded in making him a favourite for the world title. Instead, his much younger and European team mate, Sebastian Vettel is the hotter tip for the title in the eyes of most bookies, and it seems, his own team. However, like a true fighter, the veteran Australian has done everything within his power to make many of doubters eat their words. It now seems that years of hard work and unwavering dedication to his profession have finally paid off as Webber has mustered up all his experience and expertise to turn the tide in his favour and make it to the top of the 2010 standings.
Former Formula One world champion, Sir Jackie Stewart, recently remarked that the Australian was the well balanced racer on the circuit. Stewart said that although Sebastian Vettel was hugely talented, the mercurial German lacked the experience of his team mate, and hence was not being able to translate the raw skill into meaningful points. The former world champion said both the Red Bull drivers had a good chance of clinching the title and both would make worthy winners.
Behind Webber stands McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton in the pecking order for tomorrow’s race. Hamilton’s team mate, Jenson Button, managed the fifth spot, whereas Renault’s Robert Kubica sprung a surprise podium finish from the wet weather. A big disappointment was Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, who after dominating the Belgium Grand Prix practice sessions could only finish a disappointing 10th. His team mate, Felipe Massa, fared much better after securing the 6th spot. Also amongst the top 10 is William’s Rubens Barrichello, who is celebrating his record 300th Grand Prix participatory run.
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