Mark Webber

Hamilton Tells Critics to Shove It

Thumbnail image for Hamilton Tells Critics to Shove It July 7, 2011

Juan Manuel Fangio, the great Argentine quadruple world champ, allegedly once told Ayrton Senna, “You must never believe you’re the best, but you must always try to be.”  This remark, if true, shows two qualities in the attitude of “the maestro,” namely, humility and tenacity. Although many might have argued that Senna took himself too [...]

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Vettel Takes Pole in Valencia Despite New Engine Mapping Rule

Thumbnail image for Vettel Takes Pole in Valencia Despite New Engine Mapping Rule June 25, 2011

There has been much controversy around recent rule changes (or should be say clarifications) that are being instituted this season.  The first of the changes, which forbids any changes to engine mapping between qualification and the race on Sunday, goes into effect this weekend at Valencia, Spain.  Theoretically, cars are already frozen in terms of [...]

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Max Mosley Condemns Bahrain Decision

Thumbnail image for Max Mosley Condemns Bahrain Decision June 6, 2011

Although it hasn’t been officially confirmed yet, there have been reports that the Bahrain Grand Prix has been reinstated to the 2011 calendar, with a tentative date of October 30.  The Indian Grand Prix will be pushed back to accommodate the change. There had been some talk of holding the Bahrain event in December, but [...]

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Jarno Trulli Says New Tire Specs Are the Death Qualifying

Thumbnail image for Jarno Trulli Says New Tire Specs Are the Death Qualifying May 11, 2011

The Law of Unintended Consequences (so dubbed by sociologist Robert K. Merton) embodies the notion that when an iherently complex system is modified the results are often unexpected, and might or might not be desirable.  According to Lotus pilot Jarno Trulli, this year’s tech and sporting regs in F1 are a case in point. Trulli [...]

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Hamilton to Join Vettel at Red Bull?

Thumbnail image for Hamilton to Join Vettel at Red Bull? March 31, 2011

While McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton might be loose-lipped with his allegations that Red Bull are using outlawed black arts (i.e. a front wing that’s out of compliance) to leave the competition in their dust, the brass at Red Bull don’t seem overly bothered by the young Brit’s sniping, at least not to the extent that [...]

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Hamilton Complains About Red Bull’s Front Wings – Again

Thumbnail image for Hamilton Complains About Red Bull’s Front Wings – Again March 30, 2011

Far be it from me to suggest that Lewis Hamilton or anyone else at McLaren is a sore loser, but I will say that Hamilton was heard making a familiar complaint this week. As reported in Bild, Hammy told journalists in the days following this season’s opener at Melbourne, “Did you see Vettel’s front wing.  [...]

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Sebastian Vettel Takes Dominant Win in Oz

Thumbnail image for Sebastian Vettel Takes Dominant Win in Oz March 29, 2011

The 2011 Formula 1 season has begun much the way last season ended, with Sebastian Vettel leading the pack.  Sour grape specialists will argue that it was a case of Vettel’s being in the right car at the right time, but this is a familiar refrain, and one that has been leveled at most dominant [...]

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Late Upgrades Pay Off: McLarens Top Timesheets in Practice 2 in Oz

Thumbnail image for Late Upgrades Pay Off: McLarens Top Timesheets in Practice 2 in Oz March 25, 2011

Although, to paraphrase Gertrude Stein, practice is practice is practice, and one must be careful about drawing conclusions prematurely, I think it’s safe to say that one surprise that’s come from Friday’s opening practice sessions in Australia is the pace shown by McLaren. Of course, McLaren has long had a reputation for sandbagging in pre-season [...]

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Mr. 20 Percent Wants to Manage Sebastian Vettel

Thumbnail image for Mr. 20 Percent Wants to Manage Sebastian Vettel January 23, 2011

Willi Weber (a.k.a. “Mr. 20 Percent,” in reference to the slice he skimmed from Herr Michael Schumacher’s annual income), is offering a bit of advice to reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel: get a manager.  And the best manager for the job?  Why, Willi Weber, of course. Vettel, most unusually for a modern F1 driver, has [...]

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Martin Brundle Predicts Fireworks in the McLaren Garage in 2011

Thumbnail image for Martin Brundle Predicts Fireworks in the McLaren Garage in 2011 January 19, 2011

The mood at McLaren during the 2010 season, was one of team spirit and camaraderie, at least judging from appearances.  Of course, the Woking outfit is well-practiced at maintaining a disciplined corporate front, so whether or not there was as much brotherly love floating around as purported is anyone’s guess.  The McLaren brass went out [...]

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