Sports
        

Center

Australian F1 driver Webber to shine this season

Updated: 2011-04-14 14:45

(Xinhua)

Twitter Facebook Myspace Yahoo! Linkedin Mixx

Australian F1 driver Webber to shine this season

Red Bull Formula One driver Mark Webber of Australia signs autographs on an Indian flag held by Indian GP staff before the Malaysian F1 Grand Prix at Sepang circuit outside Kuala Lumpur April 10, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

CANBERRA - Australian Formula One (F1) racer Mark Webber of Red Bull can be a contender for the F1 world title this season, his team boss Christian Horner said on Tuesday.

Webber's team-mate Sebastian Vettel has won the Australian and Malaysia Grand Prix.

Related readings:
Australian F1 driver Webber to shine this season Webber is raring to go
Australian F1 driver Webber to shine this season F1 sponsors expect lucrative returns
Australian F1 driver Webber to shine this season Webber praises 'one of best' Kubica
Australian F1 driver Webber to shine this season Webber ends season with broken shoulder

While Webber, 34, was struggling in comparison with Vettel, Horner insisted Webber's fifth in Australia and fourth in Malaysia were impressive in the circumstances.

"I have no doubts his time will come this season, absolutely," Horner told BBC Sports on Wednesday.

"In difficult weekends he has picked up a fifth [in Australia] and a fourth place, and they will all count at the end of the day. "

On Sunday, Webber was held back at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, when the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) on his Red Bull car failed. He was swamped at the start although he fought back to finish fourth.

Horner was impressed by how Webber came back from 10th position in Malaysia to snatch fourth.

"He was 10th at the end of it (the first lap), so we decided to go aggressive, and went with a four-stop strategy. He needed to make it work, and his drive was a great recovery", he said.

"A combination of strategy and performance nearly got him back on to the podium."

Webber is currently joint-third in the drivers' championship , tied on 22 points with Britain's Lewis Hamilton.

 

Specials

Share your China stories!

Foreign readers are invited to share your China stories.

Art auctions

China accounted for 33% of global fine art sales.

Waiting for drivers' seat

Lack of sponsorship appears to be why Chinese drivers have yet to race in a Formula 1 event

Panic buying of salt
Earthquake Hits Japan
NPC & CPPCC sessions