2011 end of term report – Mark Webber

Like some other drivers, Mark Webber needed some time to adapt to the new Pirelli tyres.
As a consequence, he struggled a bit for pace and couldn’t challenge his teammate Sebastian Vettel. He scored a single win, in Brazil, and finished 3rd in the championship.

Season review

Racing at home for the opening round of the season, Mark Webber was hopeful of making it on the podium. The win was obviously his target but he couldn’t challenge for it as he had some technical problems and struggled to take the maximum out of his car.

Third on the starting grid, he finished the race in fifth place… while his teammate won from pole. He once again qualified on the second row in Malaysia but lost several places at the start. Tenth after the opening lap he managed to move up to 4th place and set the fastest lap of the race. At the next round, he had a disastrous qualifying session and was eliminated in Q1. It gave him more flexibility strategy-wise and he made the most of it to cross the finish line in 3rd position.

He qualified on the front row in Turkey but lost a position to Rosberg at the start. He reclaimed 2nd on lap 5 and spent the rest of the race fighting with Fernando Alonso. He finished 2nd behind his teammate – it was Red Bull’s first one-two of the year. In Spain, he clinched the pole position but couldn’t capitalize on it as he, once again, lost places at the start. He eventually finished 4th.

At Monaco, he took the chequered flag in fourth position despite a long pit stop. He was on the podium in Canada and at Valencia. Then, in Great-Britain, he took his second pole of the season but lost the lead at the start. He was 3rd after the last pit stops and closed on his teammate Vettel. Ignoring the team’s instructions, he tried to attack the German in the last couple of laps but couldn’t find a way past him.

He had probably one of his best weekends of the year in Germany. He qualified ahead of Vettel and had a better race. He lost a place to Hamilton at the start and finished in 3rd position behind Hamilton and Alonso.

Fifth in Hungary after a difficult race, he bounced back in Belgium where he finished second behind Vettel. However, his race at Spa will be remembered for his brilliant move on Alonso at ‘Raidillon’. He had his only retirement of the year in Italy. He crashed out of the race after breaking his front wing in a collision with Massa’s Ferrari.

He scored five top four finishes in the next five races. In Brazil, he was able to capitalize on Vettel’s gearbox problem and won the race. This first victory of the season sealed him 3rd in the drivers’ championship.

Conclusion

Mark Webber couldn’t make the most of his RB7 despite it being the best car on the grid. He finished 134 points behind his teammate Sebastian Vettel and 22 points behind Jenson Button. He scored only one win and his results clearly suffered from the comparison with Vettel’s.

He renewed his contract with Red Bull for one more year and will do all he can to improve next year. His goal will obviously be to get much closer to the reigning World Champion.

Highs
—  Three pole positions
—  Some great races
—  Win at Interlagos

Lows
—  Outshone by Vettel
—  Struggled to adapt to the Pirelli tyres
—  Lost many places at the start

Nextgen-Auto.com marks:
— Oliver Ferret : 13/20
— D.Thys : 14/20
— Sandrine Bouchard : 15/20
— Jean-Michel Setbon : 13/20
— Average mark on the forum Nextgen-Auto.com : 13/20
—  Total : 68/100