Webber: Melbourne will be a great season opener

Mark Webber believes that a large number of teams could perform well at the season opener on March 29 in Melbourne. This will be the first Grand Prix with the new simplified aerodynamic regulations, KERS, and the return of slick tires.

« I think it’s too early to judge, » explained the Red Bull driver to the Australian press Herald Sun.

« I don’t remember another winter pre-season being this tight. We only have another week in Jerez, and it’s really very difficult to say who is capable of what. I can’t believe we’re all within a tenth of a second of each other. »

The abnormal weather conditions during the trials more than played their part during the pre-season, with rain showers in Europe and a sandstorm in Bahrain, providing very different data.

As a result, many teams have topped the timesheets.

Webber continued to give his opinion on what seem to be the fastest so far: « It’s us (Red Bull), Toyota, Williams, Ferrari, and BMW. We have all been competitive at certain times, as well as Renault. There are many people in this situation. You might expect McLaren to be a bit stronger, given the tests conducted over the past few years. But, aside from that, we all know they are capable of surprising in Melbourne and being very strong compared to the other teams. »

While still making adjustments, we saw last week in Jerez, Kimi Räikkönen suffering from back pain due to the discomfort in the Ferrari F60. Webber, on the other hand, is really happy in the cockpit of his Red Bull-Renault RB5.

« This is the most comfortable car I have driven. To be honest, in terms of driving position, I believe I drive well. I still have a bit of work to do with the car’s balance, considering I didn’t drive from November to February. I am very happy with my consistency, which is key for me. I have never been too concerned about pace, preferring to wait for a race weekend. »