Red Bull's team principal Christian Horner pleased with driver Mark Webber: Formula 1 News
Red Bull’s team principal, Christian Horner, has praised the fantastic drive by driver Mark Webber in the Formula 1 2011 Chinese Grand Prix. The Australian started the race way down the order in 18th after he had suffered numerous issues in the
qualifying session. However, he claimed a podium finish at the end of the race, overtaking 15 cars ahead of him.
Horner stated, “I think it is great for his confidence to get a good result, especially after a great drive. He had a tough ride in qualifying but he kept his head down, did not lose his focus and he has delivered a great race.”
The British further added, “The strategy worked really well for him. He drove a strong race, he was out of position and he had three brand new sets of option tyres available to him. You had one shot at it last year because they tended to be a one-stop race,
whereas this year you have a few more scenarios.”
According to Horner, the new regulations have worked out very nicely in the 2011 season. He praised the Pirelli tyres, which made the race more exciting. The greater degradation rate of the Italian rubber made the race uncertain for some of the drivers,
who were on a two-stop strategy.
However, things worked out according to plan for Webber. The veteran driver started the race on the harder tyres and struggled in the opening laps of the race. He was overtaken by Sauber’s driver Kamui Kobayashi and it appeared as if the Red Bull driver
will not be able to finish in points at Shanghai.
Webber took a relatively early pit-stop and things changed dramatically after that. Once he was on the softer tyres, his pace increased a lot and overtaking in the midfield was not a problem for him at all.
The only issue for Webber could have been, was to make up positions through the top eight drivers. However, that also proved to be easy for the Aussie, as he was on the option tyres.
Both Red Bull drivers Sebastian Vettel and Webber ended the race in two and three spot respectively, but the latter expressed a better show compared to any other driver in the Chinese GP.
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