Mark webber

[Fuel]

Will mark webber astonish us with a 5th again?

[Bibendum]

In the rain? Anything is possible. I wouldn't give it a high probability, though! Still -- wasn't he ahead of both Toyota's and, of course, his team-mate, today?

[BootsOntheSide]

I think the forecast is for rain for qualifying but a dry race, which wouldn't help. My estimation of Mark went down a bit after Brazil, where he rather carelessly took Massa out (in fact at the time I assumed it was Yoong, which sums up the standard of driving involved. In Brazil the gap from pole to 21st was 2.2 seconds, the gap from 21st to Yoong was 1.4 seconds. Its like Deletraz never left.)

[JPBeltoise]

Originally posted by Bibendum
Still -- wasn't he ahead of both Toyota's and, of course, his team-mate, today?

Not in the first session, he wasn't!

18. A Yoong Minardi-Asiatech (M) 1:43.986

Alex was faster than the Toyotas, Mark Webber, and Juan Pablo(!) in the first session.

[mac]

Yeah, but Mark was 2 seconds faster in the afternoon.

While his attempted pass on Massa was a bit lazy, it still impressed me that he was actually racing with The Great One FOR POSITION!!!

Webber has done nothing but impress this year. He's qualified ahead of Jags and Arrows and has been close to a few others. Add to his qualifying performance, the outstanding 5th in Melbourne, a highly possible top 10 in Malaysia (until a switch failure), and 11th in Brazil, that would have been 9th if not for extra pit stops and a fuel pressure problem.

While you continue to attempt to discredit him Fuel, Mark continues to credit himself with outstanding performances.

If it rains in the race, expect him to be racing with more guys - he is good in the wet. Remember his 1st F3000 win at Silverstone. There was also a test in the middle of last year where Williams and Benetton were testing wet weather tyres - he finished 2 full seconds quicker than the Williams (I think it was Gene).

I think Mark may be disadvantaged with such a lowly respected (as a driver) teammate. When Webber wipes the floor with him, it is expected.

[M Power]

Lets remember that this gp is a bit of a motor killer. Yes Mark could get high top ten and his is good in the wet .
I don't really belive the Massa incedent was completely his fault after all his was on the line and half way up the car

[mac]

Mark certainly seemed to feel that Felipe didn't leave him much room. Still a top effort to be racing Massa so far into the race.

[f1manoz]

Well, let's just say the Webber/Massa clash was a 'racing incident' (although in my opinion Webber was alongside...)

As for the weekend, Mark has proven to be quite the wet weather expert for some time, with some good finishes in Brit F3, FF and F3000 in wet conditions. Considering that rain is the great equaliser, another top 10 finish beckons for Our Mark.

And if everyone keeps sliding off the track, then who knows what might happen.....

[Mania]

Well anyone can look good compared to Young. Webbers good on his own merit but he still has a lot to prove. The one off result in Australia is probably going to be his best finish of the season.


I cant see Minardi getting any more points this season.

[Valve Bounce]

Originally posted by Fuel
Will mark webber astonish us with a 5th again?

Well, he used to fly for Mercedes Benz

One thing I cannot understand :confused: - Fuel here seems to be the only person in our forum intent on rubbishing Mark, and I cannot understand why:confused: . It's not as if Mark was driving a works car and doing badly; instead Mark drives for the only team in F1 without a works engine, and is performing better than several drivers with works cars. Perhaps Fuel should concentrate on several highly established drivers and a former World Champion who havn't scored a singled point. It could be argued that if Mark was driving for Ferrari, he might have scored more points than his paltry 2 so far.

[calais]

VB, maybe he is just jealous that there is an aussie in F1 and no south africans!!!!!

[M Power]

Originally posted by Valve Bounce

:

One thing I cannot understand :confused: - Fuel here seems to be the only person in our forum intent on rubbishing Mark, and I cannot understand why:confused: . It's not as if Mark was driving a works car and doing badly; instead Mark drives for the only team in F1 without a works engine, and is performing better than several drivers with works cars.

Spot on VB .

and for that reason MARK WEBBER will be rookie of the year

[Jukebox]

what about Massa? if Ferrari takes him for a seat in year 2003..he'll definitely be the rookie of the year. Same as Raikonnen...a year with a midfield and the next with the top 3.

[Valve Bounce]

I hate to disappoint you but if either Kimi does well this year or Massa does well next year, in neither case would they qualify as rookies.

[calais]

its odd how a lot of people put kimi as the top rookie ahead of montoya.
i think its because montoya was that good and dominant, people forgot he was a rookie

[Jukebox]

there's three rookie this year...sato, massa & webber. if massa attracts Ferrari then he'll be the rookie of the year for 2002 in my book.

Webber...too bad he can't show his true potential because of the car he's in at moment. Who knows he might get lucky like Alonso and able to attract bigger teams.

The difference between montoya & Kimi is simply because of the racing experience they've had.....

[Rick]

Deep breath, count to ten...... no that didn't work so...
anyone rubbishing what Webber has done so far does not have a clue what they are talking about. Apparently the Massa incident started about half a lap before the two seconds worth we saw on TV and the fact that Webber in a Minardi was even in a position to try and overtake Massa in a Sauber/Ferrari says it all.

[Valve Bounce]

Originally posted by calais
its odd how a lot of people put kimi as the top rookie ahead of montoya.
i think its because montoya was that good and dominant, people forgot he was a rookie

It just never enterred my mind that JPM was a rookie last year, same with Jacques in his first year with Williams. Must have something to do with the colour scheme of those Williams cars.