Thursday, September 8, 2011

Webber proud of 2011 despite lack of wins

Despite failing to win a race in the first 12 rounds of the season, Mark Webber is proud of his year so far and is confident he will put an end to his drought soon.

Webber is currently second in the drivers' championship, but 92 points behind his Red Bull team-mate Sebastian Vettel. His season got off to a slow start, with just two podiums from the first six races - five of which Vettel won, but in the second half of the season so far he has taken five podiums.

"It's disappointing that I haven't won a race yet this year but I'm sure it will happen before the year's out. I'm confident of that," he said. "I've been very, very strong and consistent which is also not always easy. You have many opportunities to make errors and mistakes but I've also done things that I've been very proud of this year but the victory hasn't yet happened. I'm sure it will come. I'm not getting too fired up about that to be honest. Like Nurburgring, you know. It comes when you least expect it. If it's this weekend, no better place to start than in Monza."

Red Bull has struggled at the Italian Grand Prix in the past and is not expected to be as dominant this weekend as it has been at other rounds this year. However, Webber said his team has been buoyed by its one-two victory at Spa-Francorchamps two weeks ago.

"Spa's given us a little bit of confidence," he added. "We were a bit more competitive in the first sector and the last sector in Spa where traditionally we haven't been. The track here, yes it's quick but it does have some different demands to Spa in terms of the way the profile of the corners are and obviously there's some kerbing as well. So we have some confidence after Spa but we're not coming here thinking we're going to be in amazing shape. We're going to be competitive. Ferrari and McLaren will be quick again so Spa just gave us a bit of confidence to come to this venue and maybe do a bit better than we probably would have been able to if it was the other way around - if Monza was first we might be more nervous."

And he said that the top teams' form from last year has not always translated into similar results this season.

"We got beaten on the tracks where we should have won," he pointed out. "Fernando [Alonso] dominated Silverstone, so it's been a bit different this year, that's the way it's been. Let's hope it's the same here again and we're quick and competitive but then can pick our performance up on the tracks where we should be better."

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