F1: Webber Keen To Get Title Challenge Back On Track

Formula 1

F1: Webber Keen To Get Title Challenge Back On Track

Mark Webber hopes to rebound in Singapore from a recent slump...

Adam Cooper | http://www.speedtv.com | Posted September 20, 2012 Marina Bay (SGP)

Mark Webber's title hopes have been fading in recent weeks. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Mark Webber says he hasn’t given up on his challenge for the 2012 championship, but concedes that his fortunes will have to change soon.

Webber has had a disappointing run since his victory in the British GP in July. He’s now slipped back to fifth in the standings.

“We’ve lost some points,” said the Red Bull driver Thursday. “The position is not very important, because everyone’s give or take. I don’t even know who’s second or third, but we’re all on similar points. The points are more of an issue; you don’t want to be getting too far out of control.

“It’s obvious you’re not going to have much of a championship if you finish like we have been in the last few races. We know we’ve got to improve, we’ve got to get back towards the front, we’ve got to be qualifying better, we’ve got to overall just do a better job. That’s completely in our hands, and that’s something we’re all looking forward to. The philosophy within our team is a winning mentality, a very, very driven mentality, and high level expectation. We’re sitting here like we’re at a funeral, but we’re leading the constructors’ championship.

“We have had a few tough results, but this team has got some good depth in it. Look at JB (Jenson Button) a few weeks ago. ... Things move around very fast. We’ve seen some big dips in form, and big changes in team form, driver form. I’m just happy to be racing again this weekend, and let’s see what happens.”

Webber agreed that he should be more comfortable in Singapore than he was last year, when blown diffusers played a major role.

“In Monaco last year, I wasn’t in the picture all weekend, really, and this year I was comfortable there and won the Grand Prix," the Australian said. "And the blown cars were quite powerful at venues like this, so it amplified my feeling in the negative aspects. Let’s hope it can swing it back the other way and I have a nice feeling for the car here and get the rhythm very well which you need on street circuits.”

Adam Cooper notched up his 27th season as a racing journalist in 2011. He has written about F1 for SPEED.com since 2005. Follow him on Twitter.