The wrecked car of Mark Webber and Red Bull Racing is seen after he crashes out during the Korean Formula One Grand Prix at the Korea International Circuit on October 24, 2010 in Yeongam-gun, South Korea. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images).
Mark Webber finally ran out of luck and surrendered his world championship lead to Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, who won a torrid and wet Korea with just two races left in the Formula One season.
The race looks to have been a game changer for the field, as both Red Bull’s failed to finish, Ferrari completing a podium result for both drivers, with Lewis Hamilton finishing second.
Reigning champion Jensen Button looks to have finally lost all chance of going back-to-back after a poor race saw him finish twelfth. However, it was Webber who will rue his drive the most after crashing out under little pressure.
Webber had beaten his first major hurdle of his race which was expected to be off the start line where he was placed on the dirty side of the grid after qualifying second. Indeed, Webber had lost thirteen places in his last six races with poor launches attributed to gearbox launch problems for both Red Bulls.
Happily for the Australian, constant heavy rainfall at the Yeongam circuit meant a race start behind the safety car. The field initially completed three cautious laps, during which Alonso radioed to his team that conditions were the worse he had ever driven in. The race was red-flagged and suspended for close to an hour.
Finally, the cars returned to slowly lap and clear water, and after several laps where McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton begged organisers over the radio to get racing, the safety car returned to the pits and the race proper began.
As the drivers started to push, Webber held second place behind teammate Vettel who opened a small lead. As the Australian began to push during lap 20, he ran wide onto a kerb, losing control and spinning out into the close concrete walls around the Korean track, before being unavoidably hit by Nico Rosberg.
Webber told the BBC: “Totally my fault, I got a wheel on the kerb on the exit of Turn 12 and it was a very slow motion moment off the back of it. Totally my mistake. Today isn’t my day.”
This was the end of a golden streak for Webber. He had managed a number of saving-type races, where despite never looking like winning, he had managed to continue to eke out a lead in the world championship at Spa-Francorchamps, Monza, Singapore and Suzuka.
Vettel took out Jensen Button at Spa when dramatically attempting to overtake, Lewis Hamilton crashed out at Monza when attempting an incredible banzai move, again Hamilton crashing at Singapore when dicing with Webber (who was additionally lucky to survive a hit to his rear right), and at the last race in Suzuka, Kubica lost a wheel while Hamilton’s gearbox lost third.
This all from a bloke who just a few years ago who was so unlucky that other drivers avoided him in case it rubbed off. In fact, if Webber were to have bought a cemetery between 2003 and 2006, people would have stopped dying.
Perhaps Webber handed on his bad luck to his team-mate – as rotten reliability continued to dog Sebastian Vettel. The German led for 45 laps before his Renault engine failed, sending oil and engine schrapnel all over the Korean track. He would have taken the Championship lead from Webber by a handy 11 points, but instead gifted Ferrari a race win.
The Bull’s were left to lament a disastrous weekend in Korea, but will be looking to Brazil in two weeks, where Webber recorded a dominant win in 2009.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Hi Hansie - after much thought I just think Mark was trying to keep going - he wasn't far from the pits after all. It wasn't a smart thing to do to move across the racing line, however, I couldn't believe he was trying to take anyone out. Let's face it, he'd rather Nico in the race taking points off Vettel, Alonso and Hamilton where possible. Looking forward to Brazil, not looking forward to how tired I'll be!
Andyroo
Guest
Seems rubbish to me because prior to hitting Rosberg he wasn't 100% out of the race. I felt he was trying to recover his vehicle.
Hansie
Guest
There's a bit of media talk today from Gerhard Berger that Webber tried to take out Alonso or Hamilton by allowing his car to roll back across the track after the crash. Obviously, you've got to respect Berger's opinion - put it this way, Gerhard Berger has driven in 210 more grand prix and won 10 more grand prix than most of us, but I can't agree that Webber's actions were deliberate. For a start, looking at the replay, Alonso and Hamilton weren't that close to Webber at the time. It was Nico Rosberg who was in the firing line, and why would Webber take out Rosberg deliberately? And to me it looked like the Red Bull was skating across the track, so there wasn't much Webber could do. Berger is close to Mateschitz and was Vettel's first boss in F1, so perhaps his comments reflect pressure on Webber from the Red Bull and Vettel camps?
Hansie
Guest
Wow, what a championship this is turning out to be. I don't think Webber has been at the top of his game for the past 4 or 5 races, but was getting enough breaks (Hamilton and Vettel crashing, etc) to gradually increase his lead in the championship. But his mistake in Korea could prove very costly. Still, I think Vettel's engine blowing up (how about those pieces of engine flying all over the track?) worked slightly in Webber's favour because, with Brazil being Red Bull friendly, Webber should be able to make up some ground on Alonso. The team situation is now very interesting. McLaren and Ferrari will focus their efforts on #1 drivers (Hamilton and Alonso), but will Red Bull focus their efforts on Webber? Vettel can beat Webber in the championship, but Vettel is at long odds to beat Alonso with only 2 races left. Hopefully Webber will get the support! Another emerging variable is engine reliability, which really hasn't been a factor to date. I don't think anybody has a new engine for the last 2 rounds, so the chances of mechanical failure must be higher. All in all, this has to be the closest championship since 1982, when I think any one of 5 drivers could win the championship going into the last race. Finally, as Tristan has observed before, this year Australian drivers were right in the mix for the F1, IndyCar and WSR trophies. So far, Power has narrowly finished 2nd in the IndyCar championship and Ricciardo narrowly finished 2nd in the WSR championship, so I'm hoping Webber breaks that string!
Gordo
Guest
Also Mark's competitors have plenty more years left in em. I doubt Webber will be driving in 2012 Go Mark!!!!!
Gordo
Guest
If Alonso wins the championship, i'll be furious because he was gifted 7 pts in Germany and Webber lost points in Turkey when battling with Vettel
Rellum
Roar Guru
Not unlucky, just didn't do a fast enough qualifying lap, I am sure Mark would admit that as well. I was wondering if he could have just accidently locked up an old set of tyres on that spot during final practice to lay down some rubber, or is that not allowed?
Mark Young
Guest
I used to belive in Luck, But then I noticed that the guys who drove carefully and looked after their cars had much better luck then guys who drove like idiots and thrashed their cars. Notice how Mark's luck is so much better now he drives more carefully and gets into less on track fights? Funny that.
Mark Young
Guest
I was chided by my wife and in-laws for doing cowboy whoops up and down the hall as his Renault box cried enough.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Ah, Vinay's post http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/10/21/how-test-cricket-can-be-improved-part-ii/ was what had me admiring the 'bestowingness' of it all ... perhaps future reference will be made to a member of the chorus of reason?
Brett McKay
Guest
Tristan, funnily enough, I thought I'd "fittingly bestowed" that very title on Greg Russell, but it appears my words are coming back to me!! Greg will find this all very amusing should he come across this thread! Raikkonnen should come and race V8 Supercars next year - at least then he'll have walls in front of the trees....
Tristan Rayner
Editor
At least Webber didn't make excuses, I'm sure a few others would have blamed the track conditions. He is usually bullet-proof in the wet too. By the way Rellum, would you say he was unlucky to be on the dirty side of the grid after being pipped by 7 hundredths? All this luck stuff is doing a number on me, I'm off to consult a four-leaf clover.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Great comments Brett (aka The Voice Of Reason, which I must say is a title never more fittingly bestowed); the last three races in Asia have seen me actually look half respectable on a post-race Monday morning... Poor old Raikkonen, crashing (again) on a shakedown stage would send me slightly pink!
Tristan Rayner
Editor
G'day Vinay and cheers! Well... the simple equation is that he must finish ahead of Alonso now, and by at least a couple of spots to really make an impression. The funny thing about Red Bull management is now Vettel cannot really win without Webber going out the window. If they finish Vettel 1st, Webber 2nd, and Alonso 3rd for the next two races (which is relatively likely to be fair), Alonso will still win the world championship. Surely Red Bull would prefer one of their drivers than neither, and perhaps gift Webber the title... no doubt he'll be trying to win it on his own terms though.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Mark got lucky in that race, the rain took away any disadvantage of being on the wrong side of the starting grid plus Vettel went out, which means if he stayed on the track he would have won the race and probably the world title. The cards fell his way he just stuffed it up. I am a huge fan of Mark, he is probably my most admired sportsman, but you have to be honest and say he blew it yesterday.
Brett McKay
Guest
Andy, I didn't hear the final result until this morning, and yeah, there was a tiny "yay" over my toast and tea....
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
I must admit I took guilty pleasure from Vettel's car conking out on him.
Brett McKay
Guest
I think Mark is spot on here, Red Bull would seem to have little option but to back Webber fully now, and you'd sincerely hope that's the case. We turned over to the race while eating dinner last night - love F1 in friendly timezones! - and wondered for how long they were going to keep circling behind the safety car. In fact the SC got a bit taily at one point and we wondered whether the race proper would start at all. And then when Webber went wide on that corner ... oh, the horror!! Tristan, the Eds have looked after you there with that photo of Webber's cars, that's a ripper. I haven't seen a Red Bull car looking so bent and muddy since Kimi Raikkonen's last rally ;-)
Vinay Verma
Roar Guru
Mark,my teeth are weaker than yours so I'll just cross my fingers!
Mark Young
Guest
Hi Vinay I think (hope) that we will find Red Bull have to get on board with Webber for the Championship. He is now 10 points behind Freddy Alonso and will win the title if he wins both races, regardless of how Fred goes. Vettel on the other hand is now 25 points, a full race win, behind with only two races to go. Even if Seb wins the last two races, Alonso only has to finish 3rd and 4th to pinch the title. I'm betting that through gritted teeth, they will swing behind mark. And Mark's engines are fresher, Fred may have to use a new one at Brazil. Not a good race, but it sure could have been worse.