Hey, in case you missed it: MARK WEBBER WON THE MONACO GRAND PRIX!
We’re still pretty excited by the result and if you are too then we’ve got over 100 pics from the race to serve as a lasting memento.
Enjoy!
Tag: Mark Webber
Mark Webber has driven a masterful race and hung on to record a hard fought win at the 2012 Monaco Grand Prix.
Starting from pole position Webber got his Red Bull off the line cleanly and then pretty much led from start to finish. However, the race was anything but a procession with an ongoing threat of rain messing with tyre strategies and keeping drivers and fans on edge.
By not setting a time in the third period of qualifying Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) was able to start the race on the soft tyres, while those ahead of him were on the super softs used to qualify. This allowed Vettel to run much longer for his first stint during the race and gave him the lead after those ahead had stopped earlier.
As the teams kept an eye on the approaching rain it was thought Vettel’s lead would come in handy and push him right up the leaderboard if the drivers needed to come in for wet weather tyres. In the end the expected heavy rain failed to arrive and Vettel had to yield, but did well to resume in P4 where he remained for the rest of the race.
A light sprinkling of rain did fall with around 10 laps to go and Webber drove with great maturity to ultimately hold off Nico Rosberg (Mercedes AMG) by just 0.6 seconds, with Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) finishing third.
Webber becomes the first Australian to win the Monaco Grand Prix twice, following his win in 2010, and this is his eighth victory in F1. Keeping the category interesting, he’s also the sixth different race winner from six races in 2012.
It is worth noting there is a chance that some teams may protest the Red Bull victory after concerns were raised about the legality of the floor on the RB8 after qualifying. Let’s hope politics doesn’t strip Webber of a truly excellent result.
The final finishing order is listed below, along with updates to the drivers’ and constructors’ championship.
In a dominant season for Red Bull Racing Mark Webber has broken through for his first win of the year in the season’s final race. This is Webber’s second win in Brazil and is the first grand prix he was won more than once. His seventh career win marks the end of a long drought for Webber who hasn’t won a race since Hungary in August last year. As you can see above, it also marks the return of the Leaping Webber!
Both Red Bulls started from the front row and held their positions into the first corner; Vettel’s getaway was cleaner than Mark’s, who had to battle hard to stay in second place. The race settled into an early rhythm with Vettel establishing a comfortable three second lead over Webber.
The two Red Bulls were dominant and there was no genuine threat from behind. However, Vettel soon encountered gearbox issues and Webber was able to overtake for the lead on lap 29, where he stayed for the rest of the race. In the end, Webber enjoyed a 16.9 second margin back to his teammate.
Vettel had enough pace to protect second place, thanks in part to a squabble for third place behind him. Jenson Button finally came out on top in his fight with Alonso to grab the final podium position.
[Pics: Red Bull/Getty Images]
Categories
Red Bull Racing’s hometown heroes
On the weekend, some 13,500kms apart, the greatest assets of Red Bull Racing were at “home” spreading the word of Formula One. In German capital of Berlin the 2010 F1 World Champion, Sebastien Vettel, was living it large in front of the Brandenburg Gate. While, in sunny Australia, our F1 high priest Mark Webber and his young protege, Daniel Ricciardo, were burning rubber just outside of Perth at the Australian Festival of Speed.
You can see photos along with a mixture of professional and amateur video after the break. At times like these, the life of an F1 driver looks even more appealing than usual.
[Pics: Red Bull/Getty Images]
Unfortunately for Mark Webber fans, and Ferrari fans too, the decision to pit early for fresh tyres at last night’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has not become any wiser. Seventh for Alonso, and eighth for Webber, left those two in places that are darker than they could have imagined before the race began. However, it’s nothing but sunshine for Sebastian Vettel.
At 23 years, 4 months, 12 days, Vettel’s victory on the Yas Marina circuit saw him become the sport’s youngest ever World Champion. On balance the young German has been the quickest driver across the season, his 10 pole positions and five race wins attest to that.
It seems a long time ago now, but poor fortune through mechanical failure robbed him of victory in the first two races at Bahrain and Australia. Then, the recent engine failure in Korea stole another race win from his grasp. Add 75 points to his tally of 256 points and take 50 points away from Alonso, who was the man to benefit with a win in two of those three races, and all of a sudden you can see how the 2010 season may well have been a procession, much like last night’s race.
Sadly, this means it wasn’t to be for Mark Webber, who must be congratulated for running Vettel right down to the wire. Webber wasn’t given much chance at the start of the year and his five pole positions and four race wins certainly made quite a few people stand up and take notice. Especially those in his own garage. Here’s hoping Webber proves to be solid nuisance value again in 2011.
For now, you can read the post-race press conference including Vettel’s comments and those of the McLaren pair of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button. Perhaps, a nice sight to see the two most recent World Champions on the podium to crown the sport’s newest king.
There’s just four sleeps to go until the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Just four sleeps until we learn the ultimate outcome of the 2010 Formula One season. Until then one of the main players, Mark Webber, is talking about the hot, new and clean Yas Marina track. With three ideal spots for overtaking, let’s hope this race is exciting and as close as the entire season has been to date. And, of course, that Mark wins and Alonso finishes third, or lower.
It’s no surprise that the pressure on Mark Webber will be huge this weekend. But, as a new post on his website testifies, he’s ready and willing for the challenge, “It’s crunch time: we have two races in the space of eight days, at the end of which we’ll know the identity of the 2010 world champion.
“It doesn’t get bigger than this and I feel 110 percent ready for the fight.”
Crucially, and partly on the back of last year’s victory in Brazil, Mark goes into the race full of confidence, “I’ve never been outqualified by a team-mate at Interlagos,” he said.
“I can think of no better time to take another victory than now; you can be sure that I’ll do everything in my power to achieve that.”
[Source: MarkWebber.com | Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]
It’s no secret that Mark Webber faces a crucial race at the Brazilian Grand Prix this weekend. He needs to win, or, ideally, finish ahead of Fernando Alonso to boost his title chances. Even so, he casually says he’s expecting lots of traffic, strange weather and some nice looking women. Here’s hoping there’s a race win in there, as well!
The official Formula 1 website has an article reminding us 2010 is the 30th anniversary of Alan Jones‘ world championship triumph. When you read the opening paragraph it could easily be re-used for Mark Webber.
“His belligerence was partly a by-product of a long and hard struggle to make it to Formula One racing in the first place. Once there, he was considered little more than a journeyman driver, until he teamed up with the then equally undistinguished Williams Red Bull team.”
See what I mean.
This weekend sees Webber return to Interlagos to defend his Brazilian Grand Prix trophy. A repeat of his 2009 victory would cut Fernando Alonso’s title lead by at least seven points and ensure the final race at Abu Dhabi will decide the winner.
If you were writing the script, the return of an Australian to the summit of Formula One would be a nice fit 30 years after the last Aussie achieved the ultimate prize. It’s worth noting, then, Jones won the last two Grands Prix of his title winning season. A repeat of that stat for Mark Webber would be a wonderful way to cap off his best F1 season to date.
Incidentally, today is Alan Jones’ birthday. So, happy birthday to you AJ, may all your wishes come true. And those of all Australian F1 fans, as well!
[Source: Formula1.com | Pic: AlanJones.com.au]
Mark Webber is ready for the great atmosphere the night race at the Marina Bay street circuit provides. He’s looking forward to the support of all the Aussies who make their way to Singapore for this Grand Prix, too. There’ll even be a few AUSmotive readers in attendance, so let’s hope Mark can bring home a win for the lads.
As usual you can check out Mark’s preview lap after the break.
Back in March AUSmotive brought the world up to speed with the Canberra Milk TV commercial that was being broadcast on high rotation into Webber’s home town during the Australian Grand Prix. In that time the clip has registered over 75,000 views on YouTube and countless comments. Also in that time we’ve seen the emergence of the “Leaping Webber”. Well, now Mark is back with a second installment from Canberra Milk. Check it out after the break, it is simply sold gold viewing. Good on you Mark!
Australia will be getting its own Festival of Speed later this year and Mark Webber will be the headline act. The event is scheduled for 28 November and will be held at Barbagallo Raceway, 50km north of Perth.
Not only will Webber be in attendance, but so will a team of Red Bull Racing mechanics and, crucially, they will be bringing an F1 car which Webber will drive at the event.
Other motorsport categories will be represented, including V8 Supercars, rallying, motorbikes, historics and more.
But it will be Webber who will draw the crowds. The Festival of Speed will be held two weeks after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the final Formula One race of the year. If things go well for Mark on track between now and then it could be his first Australian appearance after being crowned F1 world champion. If so that should provide the impetus to really put this event on the Australian motorsport map.
The Australian Festival of Speed is promoted by the Australian Automobile Club and tickets are currently on sale, starting at $35 for adults and $20 for concession. You can visit the official website for more information, or read the press release after the break. Apparently this will be “The Fastest Day of Your Life.”
[via CarAdvice | Pics: Red Bull/Getty Images]