Webber ready for ‘crunch’ Brazil GP

Saturday, 6 November 2010 04:13 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Formula One title hopeful Mark Webber says this weekend’s race in Brazil is “crunch time” for the 2010 world championship.

Webber goes into the penultimate race of the season at the Interlagos circuit 11 points behind championship leader Fernando Alonso after crashing out in the last grand prix in Korea.

With the season finale to be raced in Abu Dhabi next weekend, the Australian believes nothing can match the intensity he and the other championship contenders will face over the next week and a half.

“It’s crunch time: we have two races in the space of eight days, at the end of which we’ll know the identity of the 2010 world champion,” Webber said.

“It doesn’t get bigger than this and I feel 110 per cent ready for the fight.”

The Red Bull driver, the 2009 winner in Brazil, says while his crash in Korea and subsequent relinquishing of the championship lead to Alonso isn’t ideal - he’s not out of the title running.

“Fernando Alonso leads the championship by 11 points, but there are 50 still on the table so there’s everything to play for,” Webber said.

“I’m not going to change my approach. I’m going to do my best and let the maths take care of itself.”

Some have suggested Alonso’s title challenge has been tarnished by the Ferrari driver’s controversial win in Germany earlier this year where he appeared to benefit from a team order to let him past teammate Felipe Massa.

But 34-year-old Webber says if the Spaniard wins the title, he’ll hold no grudges.

“Fernando won Hockenheim and was the fastest driver on the day,” he said.

“He passed Felipe and pulled away from him, otherwise he probably would’ve crashed into him. If Felipe was 10 seconds down the road, they would never have done that.

“It won’t be the first championship that’s been won - if he does do it - by team orders, and it won’t be the last.”

Not that Webber is conceding anything to the two-time world champion just yet.

“The car has been quick everywhere this year and I see no reason why it should be any different here, but we’ll have to wait until the on-track action starts to know for sure,” he said.

“More than anything, I need a clean weekend here. The weather forecast looks a bit iffy on Saturday, but it’ll be the same for everyone.

“I can think of no better time to take another victory than now. You can be sure that I’ll do everything in my power to achieve that.”

Alonso is also aware of the fact that with 14 of 17 pole positions secured by Red Bull so far this season, he may well have to start the race behind his title rivals.

“Red Bull are favourites at any circuit,” Alonso said.

“They have been very dominant in the 2010 championship.

“In all the qualifying sessions they were very strong, in the first row of the grid 90 per cent of the time, and we expect very tough competition with them and McLaren as well, who will be very strong.”

The Brazilian grand prix gets underway at 3am Monday AEDT.