Category: Formula 1

Mark Webber has made the most of difficult conditions in qualifying at the German Grand Prix to claim his first ever Formula One pole position. The Australian finished ahead of the Brawn GP duo of Rubens Barichello (2nd) and, championship leader, Jenson Button (3rd). Webber’s Red Bull Racing teammate, Sebastien Vettel, qualified in fourth.

Webber, clearly elated at starting from P1 says he will be trying hard to win his maiden Grand Prix tomorrow, “I’ve been close to getting pole a few times in the past. Today we’re here and the team has done a great job.

“A huge thanks to all the team, both here and in the factory and I hope that it can be my first win tomorrow. We’re in a fantastic position to do it. Obviously these guys (Barrichello and Button) have had a very strong season and will push us, but we’re looking forward to a fight. I’m up for trying to take my first race win tomorrow if I can.”

More driver quotes can be accessed at Formula1.com.

I’m sure I speak for all AUSmotive readers when I say best of luck to car #14 for tomorrow’s race. To celebrate Webber’s pole position click below to complete a 14-pic image gallery from Webber in practice and qualifying this weekend.

Formula One is living up to its billing as a real life Bold and the Beautiful with last week’s peace deal already looking dodgy. Apparently Max Mosley didn’t like being referred to as a ‘dictator’ by FOTA President, Luca di Montezemolo, and is considering going back on his plan to leave his role as FIA President in October.

Mad Max also reckons FOTA have been making misleading comments to the media about his leadership style and the reasons behind his departure. With his ego damaged Mosley got a bit red in the face and rushed off to write a letter to di Montezemolo which made his thoughts very clear, “If you wish the agreement we made to have any chance of survival, you must rectify your actions.”

Mosley continued in the letter, which was leaked to the media (ironically), “Given your and FOTA’s deliberate attempt to mislead the media, I now consider my options open. At least until October, I am president of the FIA with the full authority of that office.

“After that it is the FIA member clubs, not you or FOTA, who will decide on the future leadership of the FIA.” So there!

Looks like there is going to be plenty more puzzled stares to camera between now and October.

[Source: BBC | Thanks to Dylan for the tip]

Mark Webber spent last weekend watching the SBK round at Donington. While he was there he made a few wise cracks for the crew at Jalopnik. The above image was captioned by Webber with the following:

“Is that down under macho enough or shall I grab the girl in green with the umbrella?”

There’s plenty more where that came from as well. Maybe Mark can supplement his income with a few comedy gigs at Queanbeyan Leagues club during the off season.

At least Webber now has the luxury of cracking jokes at his own leisure, rather than driving one. Fingers crossed his maiden GP win is not too far away.

[Source: Jalopnik | Photo: Mark Thompson/Getty Images | Thanks to Dave for the tip]

From the BBC Formula One website here is a brief clip from Max Mosley’s press conference announcing that the FIA and FOTA have kissed and made up. In Mosley’s words, “There will be no split.”

Also from the BBC website you can watch comments from FOTA spokesman Luca di Montezemolo (pictured above right).

Meanwhile, TheSportBlog over at the Guardian is a bit sorry all the fighting appears to be over.

Red Bull Racing have dominated the action at the British Grand Prix this weekend, claiming their second one-two race win of the year, following their earlier success in China. Sadly, for fans of Australia’s Mark Webber, it was bridesmaid duties again as young gun Sebastien Vettel did most of the dominating.

Webber looked supreme in the first two stages of qualifying on Saturday, but once Vettel claimed pole position that was all she wrote. The German lead the race from start to finish and seemed largely untroubled on his way to his third GP win.

Speaking before the race Mark Webber, starting from the second row, explained he needed to get past the Brawn GP of Rubens Barichello, starting from P2, early on the first lap or else the race would be a procession. He didn’t, and it was.

Mark did finally get ahead of Rubens due to some quick work in the pits from his crew and that settled the podium positions for the race. Championship leader Jenson Button didn’t really figure at all in his home Grand Prix and managed to grab a few points by finishing the race in sixth place.

Button’s healthy points buffer means he is still the man to beat in the title race. He is now on 64 points, followed by Barichello is on 41 points, with Vettel on 39 and Webber on 35.5 points.

Red Bull made some technical changes to their car this weekend, and clearly they have worked very well. Stay tuned for the German Grand Prix in three weeks time to see if the RB5 can maintain the pressure on the BrawnGP cars and force a real fight for the 2009 title.

Click on the picture above to watch a behind the scenes video tour of the Red Bull Racing factory. Steve Nevey, RBR business development manager, talks through what is involved in the design, development and construction of the Red Bull Racing Formula One cars.