Webber desperate to get back on track
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McLaren driver Jenson Button of Britain (left) speaks with V8 Supercar driver Craig Lowndes of Australia during a media event at Mount Panorama raceway in Bathurst, 200 kilometers west of Sydney, yesterday. |
Australia's Mark Webber, desperate to get racing after the delay to the start of the Formula One season, thinks he "probably" has his best chance of winning his home grand prix in Melbourne this weekend.
The 34-year-old Red Bull driver also said he had no intention of putting away his mountain bike despite sustaining two injuries on it in the last three years.
Webber, third last year, and his world champion teammate Sebastian Vettel are again expected to be the team to beat when the season, delayed because of the postponement of the Bahrain race after unrest in the Gulf kingdom, gets underway on Sunday.
"It's time to get racing now," Webber said yesterday. "It's nearly April now and we've been working hard since the beginning of January and we haven't even done a competitive lap yet.
"Ready to go racing now, sick of the talk about it. We just need get on the track and see where everyone stacks up when the gloves are off.
"We had a phenomenal season last year (so) we're the hunted now," he added. "Obviously Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes, Renault - all those big boys - are all going to have a crack at us now to put us back down the order again."
Red Bull monopolized the front row of the grid at last year's Melbourne race but Vettel failed to finish from pole and Webber ended up in ninth place and a reprimand from the stewards after a collision with McLaren's British driver Lewis Hamilton.
Webber, whose best finish at Albert Park was fifth, conceded this weekend "probably" was his best chance to become the first Australian to win his home race.
"Hopefully we can have a better race this weekend and get the season off to a nice solid start," he said.
"Personally for me I want to get out there and execute a really clean weekend and hopefully the rest will take care of itself. It's human nature that you always want more, and it would be great to put (an Australian Grand Prix win) in amongst a Monaco Grand Prix and a Silverstone Grand Prix," he added.
"It's clear that the Australian Grand Prix is important to me, that's obvious."
The sometimes acrimonious battle between the experienced Webber and his young teammate was among the more intriguing contests of last season and the Australian is aware that he needs to get off to a good start when they renew their rivalry.
Webber, who has been mountain biking since 1997, says he considers it a key part of his conditioning and preparation for driving.
That is despite accidents in late 2008 that disrupted his start to the 2009 season and in Singapore last year which led to him racing with a fractured shoulder in the last four races of the season.
"Of course, I'm not reckless, both incidents had their circumstances," he said.
"I think for me to lock myself in a gym, I wouldn't enjoy my preparation for my job then, so I need to get the balance right."
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