The 35-year-old Australian was two-tenths of a second faster in the second practice session than McLaren’s departing ace Hamilton, who suggested Red Bull were looking like the form team around the Suzuka circuit.
“The Red Bulls are quick here - they are the team to beat this weekend,” said the Briton, who will leave for Mercedes next year.
Webber said ‘little tricks’ from Hamilton, whose team has won three of the last four races, simply would not wash.
“If we go through the last five races, and see who has been on the front row,” said Webber. “I think he knows the little tricks here and there in terms of mind games are not going to touch the sides with us, so we know we have got work to do. They have a strong car, as have we, but I don’t think anyone is dominant at the moment - certainly not us.”
Schumacher admits personal error in crash
Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher took the blame for a high-speed accident during yesterday’s practice, just a day after announcing his retirement.
The 43-year-old German, a seven-time world champion, said he misjudged the entrance to the Spoon curve before sliding across the run-off area and ploughing into the barrier, losing his front wing.
“Basically, I went a bit wide on the entry to turn 13 and I guess I touched the grass and lost control for that reason,” he said. “At that moment you are already focusing on the entry for the corner so you sort of lose the vision to the outside, especially with our low seat position you don’t always have perfect vision. I made a mistake there and lost control.”
Rosberg unfazed by Hamilton’s arrival
Meanwhile, Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg insisted he had nothing to fear from the arrival of Hamilton next season to replace Formula One veteran Schumacher.
Rosberg called Hamilton ‘very, very quick’ but said he was confident of holding his own next year.
“He’s very, very quick, one of the best out there at the moment,” he said. “It’s great he’s joining the team. I’m confident I will do well. I’m pushing hard to do well. How I compare with my team-mate remains to be seen. I’m not worried or anything, as such, no.”
Vettel confident of outdoing Alonso
Defending world champion Sebastian Vettel said he was confident he can catch Fernando Alonso, who is ahead with 29 points in this year’s Formula One title race.
Vettel capitalised on a retirement by race leader Lewis Hamilton to win last month’s Singapore Grand Prix, but he said he could beat Alonso “on the track”.
“Hamilton retired in the Singapore Grand Prix and we took first position,” he said. “It was indeed a big help in this season’s championship. But for the next races we have to really focus on ourselves and whatever happens, happens.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 6th, 2012.
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