Webber: Not bad for a number two driver!
Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber put the injustice of qualifying behind him to take a convincing win at the British Grand Prix on Sunday, a result that reignites his championship aspirations and moves him up to third in the standings.
Webber was extremely miffed following qualifying after having to hand 'his' new front wing to team-mate Sebastian Vettel, who promptly used it to secure P1 on the grid. Although the team denied there was any favouritism [see separate story - click here], Webber was not at all happy and went into Sunday's race determined to make a point.
He did so in style too, grabbing the lead at the start and then setting fastest lap after fastest lap to keep McLaren's Lewis Hamilton in check. It was his third win of the season - following victories in Spain and Monaco - and while he was delighted, tensions remain. Indeed after taking gold and thanking his team, he announced over the radio - something that was relayed on TV - that 'it wasn't bad for a number two driver'.
"It's great to win here in Silverstone; it's got such a lot of history and to win big races like this one and Monaco is so rewarding," Webber said in Red Bull Racing's official post-race release. "The start was ideal, when I got to the first corner I was ahead and thought, 'let's get on with it'.
"It was a special day and a lot of hard work has gone in from the team - you don't get results at this level if you're not putting the effort in. They deserve this today. Yesterday was a unique situation, but I'm confident we can sort everything for the future. Going forward, I will do the best I can. It was an incredible day today and I'm looking forward to enjoying myself this evening."
Speaking in the post-race press conference though, when pressed on the whole 'new front wing-gate' saga, Webber was clearly still very angry.
"Yesterday was a really unique situation," he continued. "It was the first time that the team had really had [only] one component. [But] I would never have signed a contract again for next year if I believed that that was the way it was going to be going forward.
"That's why I was disappointed yesterday and was honest with you guys. Let's see how it goes in the future but I will just keep doing what I do and hopefully it's enough."