A happy but grimly-determined Mark Webber on Saturday grabbed pole for the British Grand Prix and then declared the technical row that had overshadowed the weekend was ‘nonsense’.
The 34-year-old Australian, known as one of the few straight-talking men in Formula One, made clear that he was dismayed at the series of rows, rule changes and u-turns over the sport’s regulations for engines and exhausts.
“We don’t understand it all and I am sure only 0.1 per cent of the fans understand it - and we are here to go racing,” said Webber. “But, for myself, I am in good shape and I am looking forward to going for the win.
“But as for the rules, it’s nonsense. Nobody really understands it. We don’t know what’s going on.”
Webber took pole with a typically robust effort in the final part of Saturday’s qualifying as he outpaced defending champion and Red Bull team-mate Sebastian Vettel to grab the prime starting spot for the second time this season.
It was the seventh pole of his career and Red Bull’s fourth clean sweep of the front row this year. “This track has been kind to me in the past and I just hope it does the same for the next 24 hours,” added Webber.
Vettel Happy
Webber’s teammate Vettel however was typically upbeat. “It was a pity I didn’t get a second run in Q3 and Mark did a great lap. It was a tricky session with the rain but a great result for the team especially after all the talking about stuff this weekend.”
Vettel Happy
Webber’s teammate Vettel however was typically upbeat. “It was a pity I didn’t get a second run in Q3 and Mark did a great lap. It was a tricky session with the rain but a great result for the team especially after all the talking about stuff this weekend.”
Webber, who won last year’s race, demonstrated his liking for the Silverstone circuit with a fastest lap of one minute and 30.399 seconds in changeable conditions during an unpredictable qualifying session.