Webber accepts he will never become WDC

[WhiteBlue]

Original Yahoo interview

Q: Last year you were so close to the championship. How did you feel about it?
A: Obviously the results were close and it was disappointing. It took me a while, a few weeks, to get hold of the fact that I was so close to the World Championship, only for it not to happen. Well, in the end I'm still proud of what I achieved.

Q: Do you think it was your last shot at the World Championship?
A: Yes of course, I do think that last year was my last chance at being World Champion. But I've pushed very very hard and done many many things that other people could not have achieved so I'm very proud of what I did.

Webber is quite realistic about his performance potential. My view has been for a long time that Webber can't beat Vettel over one season. He may still win occasional races but he is not in the same league as Vettel, Alonso and Hamilton. He has obviously decided to collect as much silver ware and money as he can in a competitive car as a #2 and then retire for good from F1. From 2011 on he was driving for his retirement fund.

Many think that he will have some years at Ferrari as #2 to Alonso. I am a bit sceptical about that. As long as the Red Bull is superior there is very little reason to switch to the red cars unless RBR wants to give a junior star a shot at the glory.

[beelsebob]

Wow, he's basically saying "Vettel's better than me, I'm a second driver" o.O

[horse]

I think it's a miss-quote:

I'm hearing about a misquote about my plans to fight for the title next year,always possible to miss/add a few words for a good story..

@AussieGrit

[CHT]

i am sure when webber look back at Abu Dhabi 2010 race he will have to admit that he did cracked under pressure.

having said that, I think it is better for webber to see himself as an underdog that is waiting to surprise than to keep crying over spill milk.

Given a choice, I am sure webber will prefer to stay where he is than to drive a williams or lotus now

[WhiteBlue]

It is on Autosport as well. I'don't think they bring many dodgy stories.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/95048


I have predicted this for some time:

viewtopic.php?p=158327#p158327

[munudeges]

i am sure when webber look back at Abu Dhabi 2010 race he will have to admit that he did cracked under pressure.

It was Korea really. As far as I'm concerned he should have effectively won the championship there, but that's when he cracked. To be honest it wasn't unexpected. A leopard does not change its spots and it has happened to Webber throughout his career on the very rare occasions that he does get close.

[Jeffsvilleusa]

Webber didn't crack at Abu Dhabi, at that point he just followed the teams directions to pit early which in hindsight seemed like an attempt to lure away Alonso, which worked, and cleared the way for Vettel. It's no secret Red Bull favor Vettel, so when they saw his opportunity at the last second they handed it to him- and it was brilliantly executed!

I wouldn't say Mark cracked under pressure in 2010, I would say he cracked in 2011!

[PlatinumZealot]

Wow, he's basically saying "Vettel's better than me, I'm a second driver" o.O

I didn't read it as that though. You guys' interpretation surprised me.

I read it as he can't win it this year and he is going to get stronger to challenge Vettel next year, but RedBull will never allow him to win it being the defacto number 2.

[raymondu999]

And your interpretation surprised us, too, smikle

[RB7ate9]

It's a shame that he feels this way, but, then again, he's not one to try and sugarcoat things too much, and he sees that the writing's on the wall: Red Bull is pushing their boy wonder (Vettel) as far as he can go.

Speculation: 2009 was the testing ground for Vettel in a Red Bull, and he did well, but Red Bull showed a modicum of respect for how much Webber has put into the team and so 2010 was really his year to win. A good car, and great support, but then, as the season became too close to call, it became a matter of who to support most to pull RBR to the top. As we may surmise from Silverstone 2010, the team thought it was Vettel. Taking that, and also understanding that he - as a RBR driver - knows more about the agenda and strategy and future plans of the team than any of us here or among journalists and pundits, it is reasonable to think that he knows where he's going to be in the next three years.

This interview pains me, but his Aussie Grit isn't going to keep him from racing his heart out (barring team orders) for the remainder of 2011 and into 2012. His Aussie Grit, though, just knows what's in store and isn't going to allow self-delusion.

"Unluckiest Man in F1" indeed.

[Fil]

2010 was to Webber, what 2008 was to Massa.


Every driver has his peak year; Webber has had his. He was a #2 driver who did his job & picked up the slack of a failing #1 driver.
Much like Massa did when Raikkonen didn't do his job as #1 in 2008.


But when the #1 driver is doing his job, obviously the second driver won't get the support needed to win the championship. Nothing wrong with Mark admitting that.

[ringo]

Webber is quite realistic about his performance potential. My view has been for a long time that Webber can't beat Vettel over one season. He may still win occasional races but he is not in the same league as Vettel, Alonso and Hamilton. He has obviously decided to collect as much silver ware and money as he can in a competitive car as a #2 and then retire for good from F1. From 2011 on he was driving for his retirement fund.

Many think that he will have some years at Ferrari as #2 to Alonso. I am a bit sceptical about that. As long as the Red Bull is superior there is very little reason to switch to the red cars unless RBR wants to give a junior star a shot at the glory.

What kind of fanboy post is this whiteblue?
Look how Massa was handling Kimi after 2007. He beat him in 2008, was in the process of beating him in 2009.
As much as i think Vettel is better, i still think Webber can have another 2010; as long as Pirelli make the tyre more like the bridgestone.

[waynes]

i hope he never does become WDC, it would devalue it imo

we'd never hear the end of it. overrated aussie driver gets blown away by younger (and admittedly more favoured team mate) and after breaking bones and not telling the team (ergo compromising performance) decides that he'll sign on for another year and get a fat paycheck, then admit he's basically never going to win what he should be aiming for every day

boo hoo,my heart bleeds. fire him and let someone more deserving into the second RBR seat

[CHT]

What kind of fanboy post is this whiteblue?
Look how Massa was handling Kimi after 2007. He beat him in 2008, was in the process of beating him in 2009.
As much as i think Vettel is better, i still think Webber can have another 2010; as long as Pirelli make the tyre more like the bridgestone.

Having another 2010 mean he is going to finish 2nd again?? Even on Bridgestone, SV still out qualified MW by 10 poles to 5.

SV has matured a lot since 2010 and he hardly make mistake these days, so as long as RBR continue to provide a quick and reliable car, I dont see how MW will be able to win a WDC with SV as team mate.

[Mysticf1]

Whiteblue, haters gonna hate...put the broken record back in its sleeve.

Mark is being brutally honest here, and he's been the first to recognize Vettel's brilliant performance this year...give him some credit for that.

Mark will challenge for wins and give Vettel a run for his money again, can he do it for a whole season without unforseen influences....probably not.