Mark Webber vows to show no mercy to Vettel
Red Bull driver upstages teammate in Japanese Grand Prix qualifying.
Webber is searching for the first win of his final Formula One season, after announcing his retirement in June. PHOTO: AFP
SUZUKA:
Mark Webber vowed that he will go for victory in the Japanese Grand Prix after qualifying in pole position yesterday, declaring he will not pull over for world title-seeking teammate Sebastian Vettel.
Red Bull's Webber took full advantage of mechanical problems plaguing Vettel as he ensured that he starts ahead of everyone else on the grid for the first time this year.
With all eyes on the runaway championship leader, who could secure a fourth successive world title today, soon-to-retire Webber lapped in one minute and 30.915 seconds to push the German into second place.
"He'll do his race tomorrow and I'll do my race," said the straight-talking Webber. "Seb's had a phenomenal year. It's not like it's the last race of the championship.
"This is the links course of the golf world or the big wave stuff for surfers. I've had a few good starts and a few average ones but I'm going to take the challenge on."
Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes will start behind the Red Bulls on the second row alongside Lotus's Romain Grosjean, with Felipe Massa and Nico Rosberg on the third rank.
Nico Hulkenberg timed seventh, just ahead of Ferrari's Fernando Alonso. If Vettel wins today, the Spaniard will need to finish inside the top eight to keep the title race alive.
‘Nice’ farewell pole for Webber
Webber is quitting Formula One at the end of the season. But he said pole position was a sweet farewell to pacy Suzuka, despite the advantage of Vettel driving without his speed-boosting Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS).
"Sebastian had a problem so it's a little bit of a hollow pole," the 37-year-old told reporters. "But you take them where you can get them. It's not like they hand them out.
“It's a very, very nice farewell pole here on my last attempt at Suzuka on a really phenomenal circuit."
Vettel refused to blame his technical issues for missing out on what would have been a fifth straight pole in Japan and his fourth in a row.
"I had a problem with the KERS system but it's not my style to make excuses," said Vettel. "Congratulations to Mark.
Webber had also proved quickest in the morning's final free practice in a session halted by a red flag after Jean-Eric Vergne's Toro Rosso burst into flames at the rear end due to overheating brakes.
Before him, there was early drama as Esteban Gutierrez's Sauber caught fire after being rolled back into the garage with the driver still in his seat.
Meanwhile, Hamilton voiced satisfaction with third after a strong weekend so far.
"We knew it was almost impossible to get ahead of these guys," said the Briton. "To be as close as we are to them is a huge compliment to the team.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 13th, 2013.
Mark Webber vowed that he will go for victory in the Japanese Grand Prix after qualifying in pole position yesterday, declaring he will not pull over for world title-seeking teammate Sebastian Vettel.
Red Bull's Webber took full advantage of mechanical problems plaguing Vettel as he ensured that he starts ahead of everyone else on the grid for the first time this year.
With all eyes on the runaway championship leader, who could secure a fourth successive world title today, soon-to-retire Webber lapped in one minute and 30.915 seconds to push the German into second place.
"He'll do his race tomorrow and I'll do my race," said the straight-talking Webber. "Seb's had a phenomenal year. It's not like it's the last race of the championship.
"This is the links course of the golf world or the big wave stuff for surfers. I've had a few good starts and a few average ones but I'm going to take the challenge on."
Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes will start behind the Red Bulls on the second row alongside Lotus's Romain Grosjean, with Felipe Massa and Nico Rosberg on the third rank.
Nico Hulkenberg timed seventh, just ahead of Ferrari's Fernando Alonso. If Vettel wins today, the Spaniard will need to finish inside the top eight to keep the title race alive.
‘Nice’ farewell pole for Webber
Webber is quitting Formula One at the end of the season. But he said pole position was a sweet farewell to pacy Suzuka, despite the advantage of Vettel driving without his speed-boosting Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS).
"Sebastian had a problem so it's a little bit of a hollow pole," the 37-year-old told reporters. "But you take them where you can get them. It's not like they hand them out.
“It's a very, very nice farewell pole here on my last attempt at Suzuka on a really phenomenal circuit."
Vettel refused to blame his technical issues for missing out on what would have been a fifth straight pole in Japan and his fourth in a row.
"I had a problem with the KERS system but it's not my style to make excuses," said Vettel. "Congratulations to Mark.
Webber had also proved quickest in the morning's final free practice in a session halted by a red flag after Jean-Eric Vergne's Toro Rosso burst into flames at the rear end due to overheating brakes.
Before him, there was early drama as Esteban Gutierrez's Sauber caught fire after being rolled back into the garage with the driver still in his seat.
Meanwhile, Hamilton voiced satisfaction with third after a strong weekend so far.
"We knew it was almost impossible to get ahead of these guys," said the Briton. "To be as close as we are to them is a huge compliment to the team.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 13th, 2013.