Category: Formula 1

Australia’s Mark Webber came desperately close to securing a season’s best F1 award this year by finishing equal first with Red Bull Racing teammate Sebastian Vettel in the DHL Fastest Lap Trophy award. Both drivers claimed three fastest laps in season 2009, however, Vettel was awarded the trophy on countback by completing three second fastest laps, to Webber’s one.

Webber went into the final race at Abu Dhabi ahead of Vettel and the young German had to wait until the second last lap to tie with Webber and force the countback.

“I am very pleased. It means a lot to me to have my achievements recognised in this way. I wanted to post the fastest lap of the race, which is why, just before the finish, I really put my foot to the floor again.” The 22-year-old Vettel added with a laugh, “It was more than worth it.”

[Source: DHL Fastest Lap & Formula1.com]

It’s only a few hours until the start of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The Yas Marina circuit is very spectacular, so to help get you in the mood, here’s a gallery of images courtesy of Red Bull Racing.

And with Red Bull cars starting the race from P2 and P3, let’s hope tomorrow sees the addition of another Mark Webber gallery!

UPDATE 3 November: A new Race gallery has been added at the end of this article. There’s now over 50 high res images available, with all accessible in wallpaper-friendly 2000px super images by clicking on each picture.

Mark Webber will drive for Red Bull Racing in 2010. Not only does Webber have a contract that says so, he also has his team boss singing his praises and confirming his position with the team is secure.

Speaking after Webber’s dominant win at the Brazilian Grand Prix, Red Bull Racing boss Christan Horner scoffed at rumours that Kimi Raikkonen would be stealing the Australian’s drive, “That’s a rumour that does not exist within our team.

“We all know where we stand with Mark next year, and he does too.

“He’s a great team player, we’re very happy with his performance, so there is no doubt that Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber will be our race drivers next year.”

Of the eight seasons Webber has competed in Formula One, this year has already been his most successful, and by a comfortable margin. His current points tally, with one race remaining, is 61.5 points. His previous best season was in 2005, with Williams, when he scored 36 points. He finished tenth in the driver’s championship that year. In 2009, regardless of what happens in Abu Dhabi, Webber will finish the season in fourth.

In the 16 races to date he has completed 14 of them, scoring points in nine races. Mark’s points tally so far in 2009 includes two major highlights—his first Grand Prix victories in Germany and Brazil. In addition to those wins Webber has stood on the podium in China, Spain, Turkey, Great Britain and Hungary. Not a bad year for a bloke who started the season with a busted leg.

It’s also not a bad year for someone who has been described as an F1 journeyman. Which everyone knows is a polite way of saying he’s good, but not that good. So, things are looking up for Webber and Red Bull Racing. Here’s to them capping off a solid year with another great result in Abu Dhabi, before mounting a serious title challenge in 2010.

[Source: ITV-F1.com | Thanks to Sean for the tip]

Following the tradition set with Webber’s maiden Grand Prix victory in Germany, here is an image gallery celebrating the Australian’s latest Formula One win at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Sadly, the Red Bull Racing media portal doesn’t have as many action shots or images of Webber arriving back in pitlane as last time. With any luck some new images will be added at a later date.

Indeed, I was amazed listening to local Canberra radio reports this morning that mentioned Webber’s win with little to no fanfare, as if this was something that happens every day. It certainly didn’t garner the enthusiasm deserved for a guy winning such a race on the world stage who hails from the region the station was broadcasting from.

With just the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix remaining, Webber, currently on 61.5 points, will finish the season in fourth position in the driver’s standings. Jenson Button (89 points), Brawn GP, will be the world champion, of course, but second and third placings are still up for grabs. Webber’s Red Bull Racing teammate Sebastian Vettel (74 points) is just ahead of Brawn GP’s Rubens Barrichello (72 points).

Hopefully this win will scupper rumours of 32-year-old Webber being dumped for Ferrari reject Kimi Raikkonen. Webber signed a contract extension back in July which, theoretically, secures his drive for 2010.

UPDATE 20 October: Nine new images added at the end of this article.

Mark Webber claimed a vital front row grid position for Red Bull Racing after Formula One’s longest ever qualifying session early this morning. Finishing second behind Brawn GP’s Rubens Barrichello, the rain affected qualifying period ran for two hours and 41 minutes and was marred by a series of red flags and track closures.

Mark acknowledged the difficult conditions, and hopes there is more to come in tomorrow’s race, “I would have liked to have had another crack at being on pole, but I made a mistake. I think it wasn’t easy to knit six perfect laps together in those conditions, but I’m very happy with how I drove and the guys in the garage did a great job. Congratulations to Rubens for his pole here at home; we’ll give him a race tomorrow.”

Webber is no stranger to good results in wet conditions, of course. His first, and, to date, only Grand Prix victory came earlier this year in the wet at the German Grand Prix.

The good results posted by Webber and Barrichello could be matched by their respective teammates who were caught out in the dreadful conditions. Sebastien Vettel could do no better than 16th in his Red Bull machine, while championship leader Jenson Button qualified his Brawn-Mercedes back in 14th position and looks to have dashed his hopes of following Lewis Hamilton to be the second Briton in two years to claim the world driver’s title from a challenging Brazilian.

With just one more race remaining this season, Button, 14 points ahead of Barichello, would need to claim fourth or better and hope that Barrichello does not score any points to seal this year’s crown. Meanwhile Red Bull Racing’s challenge for the manufacturer’s title seems forlorn. With just 40 36 points up for grabs, they are 35.5pts behind Brawn GP.

A full report on qualifying can be read at Formula1.com.

The future of the British Grand Prix at a modernised Donington Park is in jeopardy as track organisers face ongoing financial struggles. If the redevelopment does not go ahead then it is likely that dumped venue Silverstone will step up and fill the void.

Quoted by Autocar Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone didn’t paint a glowing picture for Donington officials, “It’s not good, is it? Even if they get the money, I cannot see how it will all be ready in time to go.

“It is very disappointing because we thought it would happen, but they cannot go on missing deadlines.”

Donington last held a Formula One race in 1993 and is scheduled to start a new 17 year agreement to host the British Grand Prix over the weekend of 9-11 July 2010.

UPDATE 14 October: Bernie Ecclestone has issued a breach of contract notice against Donington organisers.

[Source: Autocar]