
In his 150th grand prix start, Mark won the Hungarian Grand Prix in emphatic style to retake the lead of the World Championship. It was his fourth win of 2010, which is two more than any other driver.
“It feels great to go into the summer break on the back of a win,” says Mark. “I had to drive what was effectively a three-part race because I didn’t pit for tyres when the Safety Car came out early on, but the strategy paid off and I won the race pretty easily in the end.”
Red Bull Racing’s RB6 suited the tortuous layout of the Hungaroring. It was the class of the field during practice, and, unsurprisingly, the battle for pole position was a private battle between Mark and his team-mate Sebastian Vettel. Mark was fastest in Q2, but Vettel snatched pole position in Q3 to get the benefit of the clean side of the grid.
At the start of the race, Mark – predictably – lost traction in all the dust away from the line. Vettel moved further ahead and Alonso, who’d started third, overtook him.
“I immediately got into Fernando’s slipstream,” says Mark. “I was pretty close to him as we approached Turn 1, but he defended well. This wasn’t his first grand prix; he knew what to do to stop me getting through and I had to settle for third place.
“At this stage, my plan was to try and pass Fernando at the pitstops. I knew I could lap much faster than him in clear air, so I was waiting for a couple of traffic-free laps later in the race. As it was, I didn’t have to wait that long because debris at Turn 11 brought out the Safety Car on lap 15 and that’s when we decided to do something different.”
While the rest of the field pitted for tyres during the Safety Car period, Mark stayed out and took the lead of the race. In clean air, the team thought he could open enough of a gap on Alonso that would allow him to emerge from the pits ahead later in the race. When Vettel was then given a drive-thru penalty and emerged behind Alonso, suddenly Mark’s battle for second place became a battle for the lead.
“For the 25 laps after the Safety Car,” says Mark, “I drove nearly every lap like it was a qualifying lap. I needed a 20s gap to Alonso, so I pushed very hard. There was an element of risk because we hadn’t done anything like a 42-lap stint on the option tyre during practice.”
By lap 43, Mark was 23s ahead of Alonso and he dived into the pits for his only pitstop of the race. The mechanics turned his car around quickly and he emerged from the pitlane six seconds ahead of Alonso. The race was won.
“Some people will say I was lucky today,” says Mark, “but I’ll take it. I’ve been in this sport long enough to know that you have to take the rough with the smooth and none of my other victories have been gifted to me.
“It’s good to be leading the points standings, but there are still a lot of chapters to come in this world championship battle. The top five drivers are separated by 20 points, which is nothing. It’s the equivalent of just eight points under last year’s points system.
“There’s everything to play for, but not until I’ve turned my phone off and had a couple of weeks’ holiday! I’ll be in touch again before Spa.”
// ends
Driven like a champion certainly not a second string driver.. Well done mate bloody rippa
Enjoy your holiday go easy on the mountain bikes we need you to finish this and bring a trophy home to Australia
Congratulations on a great race with a brilliant strategy and good teamwork. Finally almost recovered the points gave away in Turkey (Mclaren barely scored). Now the championship is where it always should be. Now it’s time to rest and recharge your batteries for the second half of the season. I am so proud of you. Well done, you’re the best. Have a nice holidays
Congrats Webber.
A Champions drive from you. Those laps to get the gap were incredible.
Even the Swedish commentators said that this is how a champion drives.
I’m so glad you won and now you’re back in the lead again where you belong.
Can’t wait until SPA. I know you like that track. I just hope that the Renault engine is good enough for that track.
well done tiger. i think everyone in australia is incredibly proud of you both on and off the track. keep sticking it to them mate.
You deserved that win. Yes you were gifted an oportunity, but your determination and absolute driving skills won you that race fair and square. Well done Mark.
Congratulations, great result.
A wise head on 150 races just shows up young impetuosity!
Nice win today Mark, keep up the momentum, your going great. Seb didn’t look 2 happy today but I’m sure he will calm down…. and as for Schumacher, that was a bloody dangerous thing to try on Rubens.
All the best, have a great mid season break and roll on Spa.
Great Job Mark! Fantastic Race! You are number one. Keep your faith and genious. God bless you.
Congratulations!
Despite what you might say about having good luck, I think the 25 laps put in after the SC was just the most awesome drive I have seen at Hungary for a long time. (I think Damon Hill’s second place in an Arrows there might have been as good though.) You were working hard and the in car video from your car was just sensational. To get the car working that well must be a very satisfying feeling. Top drive dude.
Here I was thinking I would just see who is leading by lap 20 and call it a night! I wanted to smash my TV when you didn’t pit immediately with the others…shows to me how emotive things are when the flag drops I guess.
Have a nice break and I hope you get more of the same “luck” in future. It sucks that it’s going to be three weeks till the next race. (Sorry for being so selfish!)
Brilliant drive Mark and a thoroughly deserved win. Congratulations
Have a good Holiday Mark, its all your year!
GO WEBBER!!!!!!
Simply superb! Enough said!
Well done again Mark! Was in your part of the world over the weekend enjoying the scenery but the primary objective throughout was to find a pub on Sat and Sun where we could watch both Q’ing and the Race. When are you putting on a BBQ for us other Aussies in GB?
Looking forward to you picking up the challenge again in the latter half of the season. Congratulations again mate!
The podium moment with champagne was fabulous! The winner takes it all, as they say. Well done!
TWO WORDS: spectacular!! grandiose!!!!!!
you are the best Mark and… kisses from barcelona!!!!!!!
Congratulations Mark, this year is your year !!
Happy holiday to you
Congrats to you Mark a well deserved win and year. Press on like the champ you are. I hope the weight of Australia isn’t too heavy, you are a true champ and a great aussie.
Enjoy your break, love the sarcasm….
What a good example of strategy and the ability to change to meet the circumstances. Somewhat similar ot Button earlier this year Absolutely fantastic final 50 odd laps with the laps times ever decreasing a mature from the head drive and a excellent result. Come on Spa and Monza
OMG! What an awesome race. Really proud of you Mark, you did such a good job. I was panicing a bit there’d be another safety car before you pitted but thankfully all was good. 2010 is your year. Have a great coupla weeks off. You deserve it.
Champagne for the champion! The podium moment was fabulous! The winner takes it all as they say. Well done and enjoy well deserved holidays, very well deserved indeed!
Congratulation Mark – you so deserve it – you’ve worked so hard. Stay safe thru the break. You are a great champion.
Congratulations on a great win, Mark. With the continuing great form of the Red Bull team, it is looking increasingly likely that one of its drivers will be World Champion at the end of the year, and I hope it will be you. Some may view Sebastian as the prodigal talent and expect him to win it, but if Mark Webber can lead the championship standings after 12 rounds, he can lead them after 19 rounds.
See you in Spa!
Great weekend Mark! Enjoy your holiday and come back stronger! And watch out for mounting bikes closing by cars!
)
Luck? No, luck is something those with dimished skill rely upon. Brilliant driving, Mark. Brilliant!
Brillant Mark: Congratulations from Germany!
Brilliant mate ..I was jumping up an down and yelling in the lounge room cheering you on. Really happy for you ..keep going !
Sublime drive Mark – great to see you put your Proctoligist team mate back in his box!! As for you being on the receiving end of some good luck, well, it makes a bloody pleasant change now doesn’t it!! Enjoy the break and happy 150th!!
You are a champion on and off the track Mark, we all see through the fakers, but you are 24 carat gold, the genuine article. You should be voted for Australian of the Year!
A true display of AUSSIE GRIT! Those 25 laps were mind bendingly awesome, pure skill. Keep digging deep and don’t back off ’til ‘the fat lady sings’.
GReat stuff Mark. Looks like theres a trend this year in that he who stays out the longest, makes up a spot or two. Pending tyre wear in practise, i would like to think this kind of strategy is worth considering in the future. well done mate, great to see you on the top. the remaining races look like they play to everyones advantage, should be exciting
How it is wrotte above,THIS IS YOUR YEAR!
This is the moment for you to take what you deserve:The F1 championship!
We all believe in you and hope that this and next year at the end you will be number 1!
Greetings from Romania!
great drive Mark – you were in the right place at the right time but you still had to drive you @arse off to win!
You bloody beauty! On top now so stay there!!
What a great job, Mark. An incredible victory.
I really hate being from Germany because here on TV they are always talking about Sebastian, Sebastian, Sebastian.
But – however – again the best team radio message of all weekend was your “That feels good” – just as the number two thing at Silverstone.
Great drive, Mark. Like you said in your post race interview, I agree it was maybe slightly easy in the end, but you had to work for the first half of the race and I thought they had screwed your race by not pitting you when the SC was out! Glad to have been proven wrong and seen the True Aussie Grit shine through again
Enjoy the break, can’t wait for Spa.
Hi Mark, Strewth, Absolutely awesome, best drive to the flag this year! Have a great holiday, and all the best for the title run-in. Also great to see and hear from your Dad on the BBC – He must be very proud of you. Great to see Seb with another glum face!!
You beauty Mark fab drive show the young ones how its done. Have a well earned rest. x
Fantastic race Mark. I enjoyed looking at your qualifying race laps so much. You have the driving style of a real champion. Have a nice holiday and come back healthy.
Just on spec I flew to Budapest to see you win a bloody ripper race, as smooth a silk. Thanks for that. I sang the National Anthem in the middle of a bunch of bemused and sad Ferrari Fans. That was FUN! Winners are grinners …….. Grin Large Mark!
Great drive!… After Silverstone I did not think you could top that drive but you did.
Well deserved Victory Mark even if its with a sprinkle of luck!
Dear Mark,
I am rapped that you are doing so well this year. I really hope you win the championship. You are giving me a lot of joy following you. Thanks!!
Congratulations Mark, great drive, awesome 25 laps this could be your year Aussie, Aussie, Aussie
Cheers
Neil
Great driving Mark, hope the rest of the season is good to you, worth the bleary eyed Monday after watching the TV full coverage
Every Australian knows you fighting hard in a German team with a German team-mate. I still think Christian Horner and Helmut Marko prefer Seb but the Aussie spirit can survive!
Brilliant drive; never missed an apex and sorted the traffic; looking forward to Spa
Congratulations! Always makes me happy to see you win. Enjoy your time off and come back fighting. Well done.
Love Barrie Braxtons comment posted 2nd Aug! Totally agree. Says it all
I said at the beggining of the season how much i would love you to win 2010 driver championship and right now i am so confident i was right i know you’ve still got a long stretch but i know you can do it !!!!! You are a fantastic driver in an incredible car and you are a deserving winner xxxxxxx Lots of love and best wishes and enjoy the break xxxxxxxx Lucy , Stockport xxxxxxxx
Top Drive Mark, I just would like Seb to stop whinging and actually say ‘Mark well done you drove well’ instead of blamming everyone else for him not getting the win. You are living the Webber motto, aussie Grit,stayig out on those tyres and smashing lap times. top job. Enjoy the break.
As I said in a previous post, congratulations for the fantastic victory! We expect another in Spa!
Luckily soft tyres lasted 46 laps and almost more luckily Seb made a mistake! It would have been very difficult to overtake Alonso in Hungaroring, not only because Ferrari has improved, but also because overtaking there seems very difficult!
Congratulations on another great win Mark. Enjoy France and all the best for the rest of the season – I know you can do it!
Really nice job!!
I’m glad that Fernando stopped Vettel. I hope you win the world championship. You deserve it.
Regards.
Congratulations Mark,
Very well done, perfect drive.
I’m a huge fan of you, and it’s difficult to watch the races here in Germany as a Webber Fan^^
I hope you’ll win the championship, you deserve it!
Congratulations Mark!
Very well done, perfect drive!
I’m a huge fan of you, and it’s difficult to watch the races in german TV as a fan of you^^
I hope you’ll win the championship, you deserve it!
Congratulations, My E.A.
Realmente un buen trabajo.
What can be said that already hasn’t,Brillant drive you deserved the win your were you should be mate on tgop rest up mate bring it home you are a champion to all that follow you.
Well done Mark A driver can not win with out a good car Now you can show your skill.5 world champs in the field proves it.keep the good work up Mark
YOU SHOWED ‘EM!!! awsome stuff mate, i’m praying that this year is yours..
what was the problem in your cockpit after the race? it hasn’t been reported anywhere.
Mark! Have a fab holiday with your friends and family!
Congratulations Mark on a great win Mark you are a proud Australian and l hope you win the world championship title this year Mark. All the best for the rest of the seasonfrom another Australian.
Yes !!!
So-called luck usually is found at the exact point where preparation meets opportunity.
Fantastic drive, a little lucky with the safety car but you didnt falter and you deserved it!
An Aussie doing what we do best; never giving up and never settling for second place {it is the first loser position after all}. Rock on.
Although iam austrian i have never felt proud to hear our national anthem. you changed that!:)
What better way to celebrate a birthday: a victory can be? You already had the talent and perseverance, and more if you start to be smart and lucky, others have no chance! You don’t believe this crap, but maybe my fingers crossed there are for something. Enjoy your holiday, it goes very quickly, not recklessly, take care of yourself. PS: Rest recommended chocolate allowed. Cheers
Like everyone’s already said, great drive in Hungary. Just wanted to let you know we’re rooting for you in Southern California.
Congrats Mark – “none of my other victories have been gifted to me”.. How true, and one Ferrari should take note of.. Mitch
I♥Y
Congratulaions Mark!
Keep driving like this, … very wise.
Have a nice holidays.
whatever happens this year, you’ve already done enough to prove you’re a champion.
but keep smashing ‘em!
What a drive!!!! Sensational!!
Entertaining and well deserved.
The summer mid season break is too bloody long.. Cmon and get back to racing!
Looking forward to Spa.
What about the days off???
Absolutely Great race mark, i could not believe seb’s chat on the radio going “how the f&^% is mark ahead of me?!! How is that possible?!?”. Clearly a spoilt brat!
Between Sebastian dummy spits and Alonso’s cheating you are the worlds favorite now. Bring it home!
MW -1 WDC2010
Ham – 2
I miss the F1 & I miss you.
Have a pleasant week. I could not see the Wind Tunnel T-T
I have heard a lot about rugby but is not very popular in Mexico, someday I will see them play to Canberra Raiders.
only another week to go till we are back into it. Hope you are well rested and ready to race. Best of luck for the rest of the season and don’t let them wear you down. We in Australia are proud of your efforts and achievements. Best season for years and you have played a huge part in it. Go Mark!!
You’ve hinted that you withdraw from F1 in 2011? I hope you feel the championship this year.
Three weeks without formula 1 have been an ordeal.
I’m like a caged lion. I miss you.
I hope to see you in 2012 in Austin Tx circuit
if you’re not I cry…
Mark!Another year older and another year wiser! Many Happy Returns on your Birthday!May you shine like a star and fullfill your rightful place as number 1! Hope all your dreams come true!!!
Mark Webber is the Team Principal of MW Arden, a three car team in the new GP3 series supporting European Grands Prix.
Well Done Mark. Great Drive. Great stuff!