The new Formula 1 season is about to kick off in Australia with just under a month to go and with two of the three total winter test sessions now complete, we took the time to catch up with Mark Webber of Red Bull Racing.
After a somewhat non-competitive 2011 season and as team-mate to Double World Champion Sebastian Vettel, Webber says he is launching a big campaign for success in 2012, and first signs of good results from the Red Bull Racing RB8, the year has already got off to a positive start. Mark shares some answers and insights into the season ahead, from his perspective.
Mark – the season will soon start again at home in Melbourne, Australia. What do you like about returning home?
“I like visiting there for a break. It’s a great place to go and unwind, chill out, the food is great, and generally the sun is out so everyone is enjoying themselves. The ocean is also a beautiful place to unwind in.”
How do you keep yourself motivated with over the 20 races in a Formula 1 season?
“I think that keeping motivated for 20 races is not too difficult. It’s such a great opportunity to race in every Grand Prix and that’s what the motivation is [for me]. To challenge yourself, get more out of yourself, making sure you have done everything you can to try and win that Grand Prix. The motivation for the travel is probably the hardest part. But once you are at the venue, it’s very easy to be motivated for what you are there for.”
Which are the first races you’d like to win in 2012?
“It would be fantastic to win Monza, obviously the Italian Grand Prix, very very passionate, and a lot of history there. And of course your home race. I think every driver would like to have a chance of winning their home Grand Prix and that’s the two which would be certainly towards the top of my list.
And then after that any Grand Prix victory is very unique, it doesn’t matter where it is. Obviously, when I won the Hungarian Grand Prix a few years ago it is not like the Australian GP but it’s still a very special place to win at and you’ve got to grab the wins because they all are a very special feeling.”
And which race cities do you like visiting the most?
“The races that I look forward to and the cities that I look forward to going to the most generally are the ones that really embrace the Grand Prix. I think all the drivers and the photographers, mechanics we’re all the same. Montreal, Melbourne, Monaco, Monza is a very good GP. The races that really embrace us and we can have a good atmosphere away from the track as well. They’re the ones that we really enjoy going to and competing at as well.”
This year [2012] there will be no less than six Drivers World Champions to beat on the grid…
“Having six World Champions on the grid changes absolutely nothing for me. I will go about my job the same that I always do. There are always the best drivers in Formula One at the font of the gird anyway. Whether you have a few arriving or a few coming back as we have done in the last few years, it hasn’t really changed my approach so yeah, it always great to race against the best guys and yeah, if you have all of them behind you then even better.”
How have you gone about preparing for the 2012 season?
“My preparations for the 2012 season were in Australia. I had some good down time but then also picked up my training. I did some surfing, did some mountain biking, some quite key training towards my job, which was enjoyable and something a bit different that we‘ve incorporated so enjoyed doing that. Preparations have gone very well; testing has gone well so looking forward to it.”
And on Formula 1 returning to the United States?
“It’s good to be back [in the US]. It’s such a big market, such a powerful country and nation when it comes to sport and also commercially for our industry and business as well in terms of Formula One. So it’s good to be back there. Give them a nice, I suppose, reward after the last time they were in Indianapolis which was a bit of a shame how the race ended up there so in terms of not being able to do the Grand Prix because of technical issues. So, we’re all looking forward to going back. They always embrace us well so yeah looking forward to it.”
If you could stage every race at just one race circuit, which would it be, and why?
“If I could stage a race at one circuit and we’d do every race there, it probably would be Spa. I enjoy driving there, you never get sick of driving round Spa. Plus, there are not many groupies that turn up to Spa, the weather is always a bit rough so you can just concentrate on the racing and there are not many groupies around so as I say, you can just get on with it.”
How do you spend your downtime during race weekends?
“Downtime on race weekends is generally late in the evening. Sometimes in-between sessions a little bit. But if we can have chance to relax a little bit in the evenings, take stock of where the weekend is, obviously your mind rarely switches fully off from the job at hand but it’s good to unwind a bit. So yeah, a little bit of music back in the hotel room, chilling out watching a bit of TV, just to sort of turn the engine off upstairs a little bit when you can.”
On a final note, what are your thoughts on the look of the cars this year, with their “broken” noses?
“Yes the look [of the cars] is different, especially the nose, and this is obviously a problem with the regulation. I know that Adrian Newey (Technical Director of Red Bull) is not really happy with that and the look of the front of the car but that’s how it has to be this year. Usually the cars are always sublime, if not the finest on the grid. Personally, I will always find the RB8 very, very pretty. It is fun to watch. You quickly get used to it. Rule changes always offer a little shock, but then we get used to it.”
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