Winning ways sit well with Mark Webber

MARK Webber has arrived in Melbourne for the Australian F1 Grand Prix with a target on his back.

270212Mark Webber

MARK Webber has arrived in Melbourne for the Australian F1 Grand Prix with a target on his back.

Webber, who went so close to winning the world championship crown in 2010, came out of a difficult 2011 campaign by winning the final race of the season in Brazil.

“It was great to touch on those (winning) feelings again in Brazil, and it was beautiful to finish the season like that,” said Webber.

That Brazilian victory was more than enough to dispel any thoughts of Webber hanging up the racing boots.

“I absolutely have to hang around and have another crack,” Webber added having taken his career Grand Prix wins to seven.

“When you don't get the most out of a situation you always want to come back and improve and do a better job.

“The bar has been lifted very, very high in the last few seasons and it's the challenge I'm looking forward to.

“I don't think I've prepared better for a new season.”

Webber is, by some distance, the most experienced F1 driver Australia has ever produced.
His 176-race career tally is already 50 more than triple world champion Sir Jack Brabham.

It is also 60 more races than Alan Jones who won the world crown in 1980.

“This will be my 11th Australian GP and I can't wait to get started,” Webber said.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner sees a change in Webber as he approaches the opening race of the new season on Sunday.

“I think Mark comes to Melbourne with a spring in his step, which wasn't the case last year,” says Horner.

“Mark is in a good frame of mind and hopefully he can look forward to having a strong season.”

Webber has spent the off-season since his win in Brazil coming to grips with a brand-new car as Red Bull goes chasing a rare trifecta of driver and constructor trophies.

The F1 bosses have also been working hard to improve the racing, fine-tuning the regulations to build on a 2011 season that was often highly entertaining despite Webber's team-mate Sebastian Vettel's runaway championship win.

Race fans will notice the changes to the cars' aerodynamics and especially a new, softer range of compounds from tyre supplier Pirelli.

Asked if anyone could stop the German from winning a third successive title, Bernie Ecclestone, the man who runs the F1 show, has backed the Australian to push Vettel right to the wire.

“I think Mark will (win) if anybody does, and I really think Sebastian would like Mark to win the title if he can't win it again himself,” said Ecclestone.

“I've spoken to Mark and he's really motivated now. I told him Sebastian is quick, you just have to be quicker and keep your head down.”