Mark Webber: Let’s improve the show

Mark Webber, the Red Bull driver and an important member of the GPDA (Grand Prix Drivers’ Association), advocates for rule changes. This position is not surprising, as the Australian driver has already spoken out about the lack of spectacle observed after the Bahrain GP.

Today, he goes further by insisting on the obligation for F1 officials to go beyond just a superficial change of rules. It’s necessary to address issues beyond tire problems and mandatory refueling. In view of the Sakhir race, Webber says he is shocked by the overtaking problems. He believes that drivers are unable to compete on the track.

I think we can have as many pit stops as we want, but what people want is action on the track and the drivers, too… All together, we’ve tried to solve this problem for years, but even when you watch a touring car race, there aren’t overtakes every lap… I think the balance achieved in recent years was satisfactory, no one would want to end up with IRL-type races where drivers overtake 10 times per lap… What everyone wants is an approach that, if it works, would be a quality approach with a lot of respect between the drivers.

Webber adds: « Overtaking, that’s what disappointed me the most in Bahrain, but I expected it to be tough. There wasn’t the slightest opportunity. It was a real shock, it was hell!!….When Jenson got closer to Michael, I thought he might have a chance, with his higher top speed and his ability to overtake, but it wasn’t easy… In this setup, you can’t rely on your intuition. In the past, you could feel the race and find the opening. In Bahrain, it wasn’t that kind of race.»

Regarding the upcoming races, the Red Bull driver is very clear: It will be similar to Bahrain and unfortunately, everyone will make their stops in the same way, as it is the fastest way to proceed…. In Malaysia, refueling will take longer, reflecting the size of the pit lane. You can’t stay there too long, especially since you can’t choose to have a light car and change strategy to get ahead of a competitor…

Thinking back to Sakhir, I might have acted differently with Michael, but since you have fewer options, and it’s the same for everyone, the drivers fight not to lose positions. Qualifying is really crucial.

The question arises whether this lack of spectacle can be repeated at every Grand Prix this season. Webber has his idea: I don’t think it will happen again during the 18 races of the season. I believe we will find the means. It must be an upward curve for all of us.

Jenson Button, the world champion driver, says the same thing: « The last race in Bahrain was not the most exciting for the fans. I think we can improve on all of this. We all need to look at the situation without being too alarmist… Australia and Malaysia should be better races. But we shouldn’t just point fingers; we need to work together to improve the spectacle if it doesn’t meet expectations. »