F1: Webber Surprises Vettel By Snatching Pole

Formula 1

F1: Webber Surprises Vettel By Snatching Pole

Mark Webber held the edge over teammate Sebastian Vettel in Korean GP qualifying...

Adam Cooper | http://www.speedtv.com | Posted October 13, 2012 Yeongam (KOR)

Mark Webber surprised teammate Sebastian Vettel and earned his first legitimate pole of the year with a superb performance in Korea.

Webber inherited the top spot in Monaco – where he won – after Michael Schumacher’s grid penalty was taken into account.

He admitted that it had not been an easy session.

“We had a few plates spinning, to be honest, with some little background issues that we were managing as best we could on the lap,” said Webber. “But the lap was very good, apart from Turn 15. I made a mistake there so, yeah, probably got in OK but the exit wasn’t great, but apart from that, it worked well. I think I got 11 and 12 as good as I could get.

“So, yeah, take the rough with the smooth. I think it was a tight session, I think, for all of us – up and down, scrubbed tires, new tires. Fernando (Alonso) did a pretty solid lap time on the scrubbed at some point there. So, yeah, that’s just the way it is. With the old Pirellis, things can move around quite a bit.”

Webber was hampered by a software issue that cost him priceless track time in FP3.

“We didn’t get to run anywhere near as much as we would have liked to in P3, so our information on the option was limited,” the Australian said. “So there was a bit of catch-up going on, for sure.

“After my first run on the option in Q2, I had not the best sector two and three for balance issues and also some other things that Ciaron was working on to get the car to finish the lap better – so that’s what we focused on in Q3. And we got the job done.”

Webber said the team had made good progress since the August break.

“We have been making small developments at each Grand Prix; that's the way it is,” the Red Bull driver said. “If you look at where the car is from Spa, obviously it's a different aero package for Spa and Monza, but to where it is now, the base of the car for sure is probably a decent step. ... Every Grand Prix, we try to just put little bits on the car to help.

“At some Grands Prix we don't put anything on, we miss, and at the next one we catch up a bit more, and also, you have to bear in mind that it's circuit-specific, as well. You have to understand what each track needs and those type of things, so the last two venues have probably been pretty good for us in terms of layout, especially the last one.

“Yeah, happy drivers are drivers at the front so when you're towards the front, it makes you satisfied, but we can still improve the car. There are always areas to improve. That's what we've got to keep working on.”

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.