12/07/2010
NEWS STORY
Mark Webber has admitted that yesterday's British Grand Prix win was made "even sweeter" by the ongoing row over the updated front wing taken from his car and given to teammate Sebastian Vettel.
Webber became the first driver to win three races in 2010 when he stormed to victory, outgunning Vettel into the first corner the Australian was never headed thereafter.
"I've always loved Silverstone," says Webber. "I won at the track in Formula Ford, Formula 3000 and in Sportscars and to win there in F1 is the icing on the cake. The British Grand Prix is one of the most prestigious races on the calendar; every driver wants to win it and I've now got the trophy sitting on my mantelpiece."
The only driver to take the fight to Mark was Lewis Hamilton, who put him under pressure during the early stages. But a succession of fastest laps soon put the Australian out of reach, until the Safety Car was deployed at half distance.
"I was actually quite pleased to see the Safety Car," admits Webber, "because it closed up the field and meant I didn't have to worry about backmarkers. As the race leader, you always worry that that backmarkers haven't seen you coming and we saw in Valencia what can happen if a faster car stumbles over a slower one.
Whether by "back markers" Webber is referring to his teammate - who by that time was almost a lap down on the Australian - we don't know... but we digress.
"Lewis was right on my gearbox at the re-start on lap 31, but I got a clean run out of the final corner and managed to put some daylight between us. On my first flying lap I set the fastest lap of the race, which sent a clear message to Lewis that it wasn't going to be his day."
Webber's admits that his victory tasted all the sweeter after he'd missed out on pole position by just 0.14s on Saturday afternoon. The qualifying session was marred by controversy after Vettel was given exclusive use of an updated front wing from Red Bull, but the Australian kept his head and delivered when it mattered on Sunday afternoon.
"Whether the gap between us in qualifying was the difference between the two front wings, I don't know," he says. "But it was a far from ideal situation and it definitely made my win taste even sweeter."
After celebrating with the team at Silverstone, Webber drove 45 minutes home to Aylesbury to celebrate with his family and friends.
"This was the first European race of the season that mum and dad have attended," he revealed. "It meant a lot to have them there and it was an emotional moment when I saw them standing below me on the podium, while Advance Australia Fair was playing out."