Formula One: Webber elated with Brazilian GP triumph

Australian says win will boost confidence, Vettel hails ‘phenomenal year’.

SAO PAULO: Red Bull driver Mark Webber was a relieved man after winning his first race of the year at the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix, with teammate and world champion Sebastian Vettel coming second, while McLaren’s Jenson Button finished third.

Webber believed that the win will be a ‘good tonic’ for him to return stronger in the 2012 Formula One world championship after going through a season in which he was completely overshadowed by Vettel, who registered 11 wins and a record 15 poles on his way to a second title.

“I think I will have a stronger season than this year,” said Webber. “I started off poorly for different reasons, but we will look at all areas to get to the highest level. When the bar is at the highest level, I don’t just look at Vettel. There’s Button and Fernando Alonso too and these guys are on the top pace. This race has been a good tonic for me and it’s good to sign off like this.”

The victory gave Webber the third position in the championship behind Button and just one point ahead of Alonso. Webber took the lead after 30 laps when Vettel was hit by gearbox problems, which left the German a disappointed man.

“It was a real shame for me as I had a good start and a very good feeling but then I had the call to manage a gearbox problem. In the end, we had a pretty amazing season and I think it would be over the top being upset now. It has been a phenomenal year and a very strong finish.”

Hamilton, Massa end feud

Meanwhile, McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton, who had to retire from the race following a gearbox problem, ended a long-running feud with Ferrari’s Felipe Massa by walking up to him after the Brazilian Grand Prix and giving him a hug.

“It’s been a long hard year for all the drivers, and I hope they all have a good winter,” said Hamilton. “It was good to have a nice chat with Massa after the race. I’ve great respect for him and I’m already looking forward to racing him again next year.”

Massa welcomed Hamilton’s gesture and said that he was pleased with the McLaren driver coming around to see him. The duo has had a magnetic attraction on the track this season, colliding six times - most recently in India last month - and ending up barely on speaking terms.

The two looked like they might be on for another coming together at Interlagos, with Hamilton hot on Massa’s heels in a battle for fifth place until the gearbox failure sidelined the Briton.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 29^th, 2011.