Another second for Mark at Spa

POSTED ON August 29th, 2011

Spa Podium

Mark repeated last year’s finishing position in the Belgian Grand Prix when he finished second in today’s 44-lap race, this time though cementing the 10th one-two finish of Red Bull Racing’s history. At one stage in the race Mark was back to 12th place, but proved once again he’s a fighter in the old-fashioned mould and he never gave up in difficult circumstances.

“Given everything that happened in the race,” says Mark, “second was a good result. We noticed after qualifying a lot of wear on the soft tyres that Seb [Vettel] and I had used in Q3 and we had to manage that wear in the race. It wasn’t easy and the team can feel very satisfied with this result.”

Wet weather on Friday and Saturday meant there had been next to no dry running prior to the race. Mark fitted dry tyres for Q3 and looked set for pole position, until his option rubber started to go off in the dying moments of the session. He lined up third on the grid, but quickly went backwards at the start of the race after his car bogged down away from the line. He lost a load of places and was in eighth at the end of the opening lap. “When I released the clutch at the start,” says Mark, “the anti-stall kicked in. It was very frustrating and something similar happened to Seb [Vettel] as well, so we’ll look into what happened to ensure it doesn’t happen again.” Mark was the first of the front-runners to pit, on lap three, and he rejoined the race in 12th place. He then started one of the most impressive charges of the entire race, quickly picking off the cars ahead, and he was up to third when the Safety Car came out on lap 13.

“The medium tyre performed much better than at some other tracks we’ve raced on,” says Mark. “It meant I was able to maintain a good pace. “I was expecting to pit during the Safety Car period and the team even asked me to put the car in its pitstop modes. But a communication problem meant I didn’t come in and that forced me to do a mammoth 28-lap middle stint.”

The other front-runner following a similar two-stop strategy was Fernando Alonso, with whom Mark was enjoying a race-long duel. Their battle had already left audiences breathless on lap nine. “On that lap we were side-by-side on the approach to Eau Rouge, both of us using KERS,” says Mark. “Contact wasn’t an option and one of us had to lift. I had the slightly better line, so it was Fernando who backed off first. He’s a world-class driver and he knows when enough is enough, but it was still one of those moments when I held my breath!” Mark went on to cross the finish line 3.7s behind team-mate Vettel and set the fastest lap of the race on lap 33. “I would have preferred the 1-2 to be the other way around,” says Mark, “but Seb drove a good race. All it means is that I’ll have to wait a bit longer to win my first race of the year.”

// ends

NB Apologies to those of you who visited www.markwebber.com over the course of the weekend looking for updates from Spa. Unfortunately we experienced an IT glitch which prevented us posting our usual level of information on the website. Look forward to updating you from Monza in two weeks time!

Comments

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Dian POSTED September 07th, 2011

I guess now you are ok
Concentration and you will win in Monza

shoji POSTED September 02nd, 2011

awesome mark…that pass remaind me the chinese grand prix.welldone mate.

Richard POSTED September 01st, 2011

Hi Mark, I believe if you can get to the bottom of your poor starts off the line, am sure this will give you the gap on the rest of the field. Once again you showed why you are a champion with a great recovery, drive & pass on Fernando. It is great news that you have resigned for another year. I think you have a few more years, because you are getting better as each year passes and we need people like you in F1 who have made it worth watching with all the changes to the F1 cars today. I wish you all the best for the next GP and make Monza your first win for this year.
Best of Luck
Cheers

swati POSTED September 01st, 2011

Gosh!your overtaking on the outside of Alonso’s was just awesome .”Cheers to AUSSIEGRIT”And many many congratulations to you for your new contract with the Redbulls.

Tanya POSTED September 01st, 2011

Mark, the race was incredible!!! You were flying like a wind! And considering there were mediums – how did you do that?! And your battle with Fernando – just wow!!!
Looking forward. Good luck!!!

TRICKO POSTED September 01st, 2011

well worth waiting for,great news you are staying with Red Bull and keeping the german on his toes!! The whole weekend was fab really exciting stuff,and that pass what can i say!looking forward to italy.COME ON THE WEBBER!!!!!

Dana (Dubai) POSTED August 31st, 2011

Hi Mark
Happy birth day. your recovery was a great, I think if there more laps you will overtake Vettel,I hope your engineers find a solution for the car because the bad start in most races or maybe its a Psychologic case and you should get rid of it. withe my best wishes for the next gp and I hope see you on the top of the podium. all fans with you.

Dana POSTED August 31st, 2011

Competition was incredible! I was wondering a good start and Safety Car during a wheel replacement. I think it could have been the first place. True, in the F1 is not a good word “if”, but I wish you at least this result in the following competitions. The world championship you can reach, but do not want it desperately, and you’ll get!

wassa POSTED August 31st, 2011

Mate can understand your dissapointment at another second but smile a little at the the press interview after the race. Jenson Button made you look like a sour face. I can not even imagine the stress and energy levels required at the top level of what you do but its a observation not a critisisum.
Congrads on 2012 perhaps it will be your yearmate
Cheers

Usman POSTED August 30th, 2011

Mark! The second place finish does little to satisfy my craving of seeing you win!!!! It does however give me enough energy to roll over for the next race. 100% behind you mate. Lets get it done

3 Amigos POSTED August 30th, 2011

Mark! Also we realised how dangerous this game is!!! Wish u all safe! We missed your rally! Lovely people in Belgium! Very Friendly!We recommend anyone to go there! Be safe always please!

Mark!!!! We were there!!! My god what a race! We all so happy to see uuuu! Kids wants to see u again! Well done!!!

Karin POSTED August 30th, 2011

Congratulation for another podium – 2nd is great!

Thanks for a great race – I really enjoyed it. When you passed Alonso I nearly made a hole in my floor by pressing my foot on the gas as well!

And Mark, there is no need to make it more thrilling with an extraordinary start

Have a good time, I’m looking forward to the next racing weekend

Pete POSTED August 30th, 2011

Great work on gaining another podium Mark. Keep up the good work, happy birthday for the other day and great you are still in the team for another year. Good luck for the remainder of the year and hopefully some better “starts” cause you know how to pass and finish well.

Paul Rodenhuis POSTED August 30th, 2011

So was it a gearbox/clutch problem that caused the anti-stall to kick in? How does that work?

Dian POSTED August 30th, 2011

It’s about time to see you at the top of the podium

ulla b POSTED August 30th, 2011

Thanks for a very good and exciting race. I also would have preferred it to be the other way round regarding you and Seb. Seb’s superiority this year takes away the suspense from the championship. Good luck at Monza (and try to make a better start)!

Suraj POSTED August 30th, 2011

Well done Mark! Fantastic drive coming 2nd considering the anti-stall start! That pass of Alonso at high speed at the Eau Rouge was just AMAZING!

Well done!

Belated birthday wishes!

Paul POSTED August 30th, 2011

Mark, I believe in you! Show Vettel who’s boss. Give us another “not bad for a number 2 driver!”

Rooting for you as always.

Sherman POSTED August 30th, 2011

Why red bull holding back Mark?

Andrea POSTED August 29th, 2011

What a perfect birthday present: a new contract and the 2nd place in a thrilling race! Congratulations!

Wendy POSTED August 29th, 2011

Oh Mark – You’re starts! But what a great recovery. Loved the passing move on Alonso. Well done on getting second but take pity on your poor fans hearts!

Agnieszka POSTED August 29th, 2011

Mark, thank you for another amazing race, it was wonderful to see you on the podium again! Keep on great work!! Warm greetings from Poland Agnieszka

Ben Pledge POSTED August 29th, 2011

Another very good drive from Mark and a good race to watch. Looking forward to another good contest at Monza. Time for a real quick start.

Stu POSTED August 29th, 2011

great drive Mark, only the start preventing you from standing on the top. Keep the good form going – a win is very close.

josh POSTED August 29th, 2011

The move on Alonso was highlight of the grand prix! Well done, Mark. Another solid result and recovery.

Phil Colbert POSTED August 29th, 2011

it is amazing how Mark’s car is always slow of the line; that his radio is bound to fail if a pit stop needs to be called; that his tyre strategy never makes sense and that his pit crew can always manage to stuff up Mark’s stops etc.etc.

Mark must be the unluckiest person who ever lived.

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Another second for Mark at Spa

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Another second for Mark at Spa

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