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KERS failure proves costly for Webber

POSTED ON April 11th, 2011

Mark put in a gritty performance in the Malaysian Grand Prix to finish in fourth place and set the fastest lap of the race. But after starting third, he was immediately put on the back foot following a technical problem.

“The clutch didn’t behave itself initially,” says Mark. “That cost me a bit of time, but the biggest problem was KERS. When I pushed the KERS button as we left the grid, nothing happened and I was swamped. I ended the first lap in 10th place.”

The early laps saw Mark battle with Kamui Kobayashi and Michael Schumacher, but he quickly altered his strategy from three stops to four.

“Despite being very quick through the corners,” says Mark, “it was going to be very difficult for me to pass people with KERS because they were so quick in a straight-line. I had to do something different to make progress and that meant changing the strategy.”

Mark was very quick on his fresh sets of tyres and climbed as high as fourth, before his final stop dropped him back to eighth.

“I drove every lap on the limit,” says Mark. “I’d like to have stayed out a bit longer before making my final pitstop, but I was losing too much time behind Lewis [Hamilton] and I had to come in. But my car was very fast in my final stint and I was able to make quick progress.”

Part of that progress was an audacious overtaking manoeuvre around the outside of Felipe Massa at Turn 1 on lap 50 and he crossed the finish line 1.3s behind Nick Heidfeld in third place.

“As the race progressed,” says Mark, “it became harder to overtake due to the amount of marbles off-line. That’s why I passed [Felipe] Massa around the outside. It was a risky move, but it paid off because there was more grip on the outside of the track than the inside.

“Once I was ahead of Felipe, I thought I could finish on the podium because I was much faster than Heidfeld through the corners. But the he was very quick on the straights and I couldn’t get a run on him.”

Tenth to fourth was still a great result, particularly when you consider how much the Pirelli tyres have changed the nature of the races this year. There were a total of 63 pitstops at Sepang, compared with 22 last year.

“It was quite hard for us to understand what was going on in the race,” says Mark, “so I can understand why some people at home might have thought it was difficult to follow. More pitstops doesn’t always lead to better racing; you want the race to take place on the track and not in the pits.”

Mark is now staying in Malaysia for a couple of days before moving to Shanghai in the middle of the week for next weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix. He finished second there in 2009 and is hoping for another good result on Sunday.

“There’s no doubt that Seb [Vettel] has got off to a great start in the championship,” says Mark. “But I’m confident that the car will be competitive in Shanghai and I’ll be pushing hard. I’ll keep boxing; I’ll keep swinging.”

// ends

Comments
peter POSTED April 16th, 2011

Go Mark, just ignore that little smart person of a team mate.you suppose to be a team, you can do it, you have the experience and the maturity to WIN.

psych budgee POSTED April 14th, 2011

A champion’s performance in the circumstances, for different reasons you and Fernando did it tough Sunday. Good to see valuable points accrue from two testing weekends – as we have seen in the past that is the important aspect of F1 at the end of the season. Great to watch you race last weekend.

Craig Stubbin POSTED April 13th, 2011

The adversity you have dealt with from early in your career is certainly proving a valuable asset right now. I watched an inspiring drive and more importantly, inspiring INDIVIDUAL in the Malasian GP. I am looking forward to the exciting year ahead, it would be fantastic if your car became a pillar of strength for you as the season progresses. I love watching driven, hungry competitors..!

Jojack POSTED April 13th, 2011

You definitely took them to the school last race man! Hope things turn out better in the next race. Good luck from Venezuela.

David Brown POSTED April 13th, 2011

Great effort and performance in Malaysia Mark! Having no KERS at all but having to carry the device around, and to race as you did, is very impressive! I look forward to seeing you do well with a fully-functioning car.

NATALIA RINCON POSTED April 12th, 2011

MARK MIND! THIS IS YOUR WEEKEND, YOU CAN DO IT!
I HOPE THAT THE TEAM AND HELP YOU RUN YOUR CAR FULLY.
KISSES FROM BARCELONA

Tony POSTED April 12th, 2011

Great work Mark,without kers – still trying to work out how it is your car and not Sebs that has the mechanical setbacks- keep rocking

iain POSTED April 12th, 2011

A brilliant drive Mark – most impressive and will look for your team to build on the momentum you are creating.

Can’t wait till race day,
All the best,
iain

Bernie POSTED April 12th, 2011

Brilliant drive, well done.

Fuad Al Suwaidi POSTED April 12th, 2011

Webber you are the Great drive what you did in this race you coming like ayrton_senna

Viktoriya POSTED April 11th, 2011

Overtaking Massa was magnificent!!!If you have not 4 pitstops,you”d be in the 3 place.
Great work,Mark!

sue benford POSTED April 11th, 2011

great drive podium not far away hang in there were all behind you

Joannah POSTED April 11th, 2011

Mark, you were bloody awesome yesterday – absolutely great drive and to get the fastest lap in a sub-standard car was phenomenal.

Roll on China and let’s see what you can do when you (hopefully) have the car to match your teammate’s ;) .

JWSpier POSTED April 11th, 2011

Go Mark Go,
Great work this weekend,
Good luck in China!

Chloe POSTED April 11th, 2011

Well done on your recovery from the start, Mark. I enjoyed the race and seeing how it panned out in the end, especially when you were close to Heidfeld. Good to see a shake up in the dominant cars this year.

Michael Shiel POSTED April 11th, 2011

Mark, you know we are all here because we are proud of your efforts,what a great drive you had yesterday a real gritty drive against the odds ,and that pass on Massa was awesome i was jumping around the the lounge room pumping my fists ……..

Hope you do well in China,you really need it

Greg POSTED April 11th, 2011

Good on you Mark. Whether you are being disavantaged or not, I believe you will come out the better driver and from what I have seen…. certainly the better man.

stuart POSTED April 11th, 2011

Heart sank on the start but to watch you fight your way back up the field was edge of the seat stuff and most enjoyable. Hope you had some fun doing it despite the misery of knowing you were starting the race with a faulty car.

Jase POSTED April 11th, 2011

Great effort despite the crappy luck on your car. You do Australia proud everytime you suit up mate. Continue to push hard. All of Oz is behind you.

Miriam POSTED April 11th, 2011

Fantastic overtaking maneuver! Go on Mark! Good Luck in Shanghai!

Tony Callander POSTED April 11th, 2011

Stunning driving and more ot come in China Pity about KERS but as per Ned Kelly such is life. Take each race as it comes looking ofrward to China

Carme POSTED April 11th, 2011

You were great! I´m sure you will be better and better next races!!!!!

Rebel POSTED April 11th, 2011

Great fight back Mark. 26 sec of lead, 4 pitstops and a doogy diet redbull. Inspirational. Keeping bringing out the Aussie Spirit and never give up.

Wayne D POSTED April 11th, 2011

As an Aussie, it was awesome to sit in the stand on K1 and cheer you go around Massa ! Woohoo ! Go get’em big fella

Karen POSTED April 11th, 2011

Considering everything that happened at the start of the race and the change of strategy you did a fantastic job in Malaysia. Looking forward to a fabulous race in China, hopefully on top of the podium.

Jay POSTED April 11th, 2011

Mark, yet again you proved your metal in this race. You fought back against enormous odds, not the least of which was your team boss sticking to a four stop ‘strategy’, (I remember hearing your enquiry mid race) which effectively kept you off the podium. As for your KERS problem, it beats me as to why it was only a problem on your car…time for more security? Have a great race in Shanghai.

Richard POSTED April 11th, 2011

Hi Mark, That was the drive of the day, considering the problem you experienced at the start with the malfunction of KERS on your car. To then change to a four stopper and come out in 10th and fight your way back and fastest lap of the race and with 4th place finish was special and collected more points. The move on Massa was even better. You showed once again your grit and determination not to allow things to get the better of you. I hope RB get on top of KERS and ensure you have no other reliability issues with your car for the next race.
Look forward to seeing you with a podium win in China.

Chris POSTED April 11th, 2011

Excellent drive Mark. After the start,getting a podium woulda been as good as a win.And u were so close. If u had KERS even for 29laps like Seb,Champagne was on the menu. Get em in china.

Genn POSTED April 11th, 2011

Great drive Mark! It was art, not driving. Finally good strategy and tactics even if the start wasn’t so good.

Go Webber! Go RBR!!!

Andrea POSTED April 11th, 2011

Thank you for explaining us why you had an other strategy as VET. Most of us didn’t understand!!! But once again Mark you did a great job and the fastest lap!!!

Joel POSTED April 11th, 2011

Terrific effort Mate!
Brilliant adaption of both strategy and tactics.

You’ve had some gritty experience and know you can set fastest laps and charge through a talented field.

How does your view torward the race in China differ to the view you had for Malaysia and other races?

Tommo POSTED April 11th, 2011

Great drive Mark, lap 50 sent shivers up my spine so did the dicing with Kobayashi. Keep it up mate, the shampers wont elude you for too long. Great drive.

Kevin Wickenden POSTED April 11th, 2011

Mark, what a fantastic race from you as usual and the best pass I have seen in a while. Only 26sec behind the win with no KERS and 4 pitstops. AWESOME!

Patrick POSTED April 11th, 2011

great job mark!! pitty about the start but was a great call to alter the strategy and what great driving to push hard and charge late for a 4th great job mate keep it up podium finish is on the cards for this week!
all of aus are behind you!!!

Stevo Di Devo POSTED April 11th, 2011

Malfunctioning ( deliberate or coincidence, who am I to say?) car and you still come in Forth! Imagine if you wern’t Hobb- I mean,…a victim of circumstance? Go Get Hi- I mean Them, yes,.. ‘them’,.. Mark in Shanghai!!

ivan POSTED April 11th, 2011

grate drive Mark, see you on the podium in China.

Tony POSTED April 11th, 2011

Great result considering the problems you had. look forward to seeing you win one in the near future

Sunny Lee POSTED April 11th, 2011

Was watching your comeback from 10th to 4th
That was a very entertaining fightback mark

i was glued to my seat

Dollz POSTED April 11th, 2011

hi mark, to be honest we r not gonna give u couraging words and put u in a stress spot. all i can say, no mattter wat we r rite behind u! always remembered tat mark! :)

Trinette POSTED April 11th, 2011

Mark, wow what a race, you drove like a champ I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.Only the second race and good points on the board, can’t wait for China. Well done. Aussie,Aussie,Aussie!

Stephen Hill POSTED April 11th, 2011

Good onya Mark. You have unbelievable tenacity and the only Aussie in sport at the moment that I can get excited about!

josh POSTED April 11th, 2011

The move on Massa was a highlight. All things considered, definitely driver of the day. Well done MW.

Darren Zub POSTED April 11th, 2011

Fantastic race Mark!

Bloody KERS.

Keeping racking up the points, it is all about consistency. Seb will have problems when he has to overtake someone.

chris POSTED April 11th, 2011

you know you can do it just keep pushing who lead the world champ for the longest period last year.

DC POSTED April 11th, 2011

A great race from a difficult start, well fought, keep up the hard work. Everyone is Oz is proud to have you representing us :D

Paul Flindell POSTED April 11th, 2011

Great drive mate. Love the change of strategy and the push to make things happen after a technical set back. That attitude wins championships!

mariella POSTED April 11th, 2011

You were superb. wish to think the same about your team. Will see

Troy Baker POSTED April 11th, 2011

well done, great drive!!

Jason POSTED April 11th, 2011

To achieve the fastest lap & salvage a 4th place finish without KERS shows that you are a great F1 driver. Iron the cars bugs out & we’ll see you high on the podium again. An inspiring race Mark, well done to you & your team.

jack maghan POSTED April 11th, 2011

I thought you did an awesome job given your 4 stop strategy! Go kick some arse in China!

DinaA. POSTED April 11th, 2011

Sensational performance after an awful start Mark!
Great fight, battling through from 10th to 4th (including fastest lap) WITHOUT KERS plus 4 PIT STOPS!!!!!!!
Passing Massa was pure Mark Webber determination and professional approach!!

Enjoy hiking in the hills and watch out for the tigers before moving to Shanghai with some very valuable points in the pockets.

Good luck for the next race!!

Robert Davidson POSTED April 11th, 2011

Sweet move on Massa. He didnt see that one coming!!!!

Neil Watt POSTED April 11th, 2011

Hi Mark, Great gritty drive after a horrible start! More points on the board too. Don’t worry a win is not far away, you’ve got the talent and the car – Go get em in China! All the best for the rest of the season.

Robyn and Peter Maslen POSTED April 11th, 2011

Hang in there you proved you are the best when you have a half decent car – fastest lap proved a point with a second rate car. Connect everything in China and blast them all off the track.

Wendy POSTED April 11th, 2011

Mark you did well all things considered. Keep fighting. You can do this.

Chris POSTED April 11th, 2011

We are behind you mate !
“You have to believe in yourself
when no one else does.
That’s what makes you a winner.”

Sheila T POSTED April 11th, 2011

Great drive all things considered! Hope all the technical ducks are in a row for Shanghai :-)

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