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Turkey Race Report
POSTED ON May 09th, 2011Fifth in Australia, fourth in Malaysia, third in China and now second in Turkey. Mark notched up his best result of the year at Istanbul Park on Sunday to play his part in the first Red Bull Racing one-two of the season.
“Second was the maximum I could get today,” says Mark. “I lost a load of time behind Nico [Rosberg] after he got the jump on me at the start and by the time I’d found a way past him, Seb [Vettel] had enough daylight to control the race from the front.
“It was already clear, however, that Fernando Alonso’s race pace was very good in the Ferrari and I had to focus on racing him. We had a good battle.”
Mark and Fernando were never more than a few seconds apart for the duration of the 58-lap race. Then, just before half distance, Fernando overtook Mark in the DRS zone along the back straight and it took some Aussie grit for Mark to find a way back past.
“I had a new set of prime tyres for my last stint,” says Mark, “and the car felt good. On lap 51 I got a run on Fernando in the DRS zone and we were side-by-side through Turns 12, 13 and 14.
“I was ahead by the time we came onto the start-finish straight, but all the marbles off-line made the racing line very narrow. It was very slippery, but Fernando’s not in his first grand prix and we gave each other enough room.”
Once again, tyre wear was the major talking point of the race. The rubber was punished through the notoriously demanding Turn 8, through which the cars pull high lateral loads for a period of seven seconds, and there were a total of 80 pitstops in the race – a new record. Mark made four stops.
“With Friday morning being wet,” says Mark, “pitstop strategy was difficult to nail down early in the weekend. Despite there being three support races, the track didn’t evolve much and, in the end, it was pretty clear that four stops was the fastest way to go. Seven of the top eight finishers made four stops.”
This result sees Mark close the gap to Lewis Hamilton, who lies second in the world championship table, to four points and we now head to the Spain-Monaco double-header.
“I’m excited about the next few races,” says Mark. “I like Barcelona and Monaco and I hope the car will be good at both tracks. Success breeds success, but we’ve got to keep working: heads down, arse up.”
Comments
george
POSTED May 14th, 2011
Whatever your doing – keep going mate.
Peter Maslen
POSTED May 10th, 2011
Good try. Only one way to go from here. Seb can not improve so go for it and repeat Monaco again and make Spain the double.
Bernie
POSTED May 10th, 2011
“the guys pitted me probably a bit earlier than I expected” Not sure what to make of this but with all the speculation about better cars for some I remain cirumspect. I hope this decision was made with your best interests at heart. Keep up the good work. Keep the numbers improving…. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
JW
POSTED May 10th, 2011
Way to go mate!! I’m sure you will get a first place soon!!
Go Webber Go!
Corbs
POSTED May 10th, 2011
Great to see you on the podium again Webbo, here’s to the middle step in Spain and Monaco!!
josh
POSTED May 10th, 2011
Well done, Mark. So glad you got P2 back. Nice clean driving. P1 not long now…
Aïcha
POSTED May 10th, 2011
To be only 5 points above Hamilton
Stevie
POSTED May 10th, 2011
Well done Mark! You’re creeping up there – it’s great stuff! You’re the only one that can stop Vettel now – you have to. Jenson Button says so too! You always make my day when you’re on track. Go Mark!
Eva
POSTED May 10th, 2011
Mark, congrats for a great race and exciting battle with Fernando!
Now after 5,4,3 and 2… you will be 1st in Spain!
I was lucky to see your 1st victory of 2010 season in Montmeló… and I am sure you will be at the top of the podium again this year. I will be there cheering you… and trying to catch the helmet…
Have a good rest!
Viktoriya
POSTED May 10th, 2011
Excellent job! Your intellectual style of driving, make the race very enthralling sight.
Thank you for the great emotions!!!
Mariella
POSTED May 10th, 2011
Good to see a little action, thanks for that. Great race, fantastic job. 
You are The Man
Richard
POSTED May 10th, 2011
Hi Mark,
Another solid drive and great result, more points and third in the title race.
Enjoyed the pass on Alonso.
Stay focused and look forward to seeing you across the line in P1 in Barcelona.
Good luck.
PS With recent media speculation about your possible future plans by the end of the season. If China is any guide, I for one and I am sure many would love to see you continue for a couple more seasons. You are driving better as each year passes, don’t hang up the helmet yet.
Ashley
POSTED May 10th, 2011
C’mon Mark for Barcelona. Got to make it back 2 back wins now and get some ground on your flying team mate.
Wendy
POSTED May 09th, 2011
Well done Mark. Keep up the good work. Hope you get the win next time out!
stephen bowden
POSTED May 09th, 2011
Mark you have the ability and the passion to win the World Drivers Championship. Mate from one proud Aussie l would love to see you win please look at your options and go forward with Mercedes and Ferrari either one l am sp proud of you Go Aussie.
stephen bowden
POSTED May 09th, 2011
Mark i heard you speak on One HD on race day saying that you might stay with Redbull, wrong decision Mark you will never win the championship with RedBull Vettel has the better car that is at least two to three tenths quicker than your car. Mark please look at Mercedes and Ferrari for each year with Mercedes you can help them because there car is not far away from being up the front of the grid
Miriam
POSTED May 09th, 2011
Congratulations for the second P!
Your time,for the first,will come…soon…
Good luck for Barcelona!
Tony Callander
POSTED May 09th, 2011
Good drive fastest lap and a well thought out strategy I think based on the previous results next race will be a win and about time Could not believe the slippery start but the racing more than made up for it EXCELLENT
3 Amigos
POSTED May 09th, 2011
Mark! Yippie Yippie La La!!!! We are so proud of you, you showed your true fighting spirit for yourself and as a team! We Love you very much!This is the start of many triumps!!!!!
Tony Toth
POSTED May 09th, 2011
Great job mark, beautiful to watch. 5-4-3-2-1. Hope you can get the win in Barcelona as your last 4 finish positions show. Keep trying to beat Vettel, but if not, just enjoy the season. You are more satisfying to watch then Vettel any day of the week.
Patrick Burns
POSTED May 09th, 2011
only one way from here Mark and thats up great performance angain the most exciting aspect of the race was provided from your battle with alonso, great clean driving from the both of you! well Done
Aïcha
POSTED May 09th, 2011
My birthday gift was to see you and the podium 
Thank you!!
Tommo
POSTED May 09th, 2011
Ya bloody ripper.
good race Mark, good to see someone instill action in the front of the field. loved that overtake with Alonso, literally wheel to wheel, fantastic stuff. Points are points, and another fastetst lap of the race!!! the champagne taste is back, now hopefully you can tell us what the view in Spain is like….from P1. All the best Mark.
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MW Arden GP3 News
Mark Webber is the Team Principal of MW Arden, a three car team in the new GP3 series supporting European Grands Prix.
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Well what can I say brilliant drive take that momentum into the next 2 races.