Webber: My motivation is still very high

Saturday 28th November 2009

Mark Webber insists his motivation is "very high" as he looks ahead to his ninth season in Formula One.

The Australia, who bagged the race victories in Germany and Brazil on his way to fourth place in the standings, will remain with Red Bull Racing next season after signing a one-year extension with the 2009 Championship runners-up.

Webber, though, is eager to ensure that next year is not his last in F1, confident that a good showing - and a move up the standings - will secure his long-term future.

"My motivation is very high, which is the key," Webber told Autosport. "You can't survive if the motivation is low.

"This is the most enjoyable and the best group of people I've worked with in F1.

"They have got such an incredible balance of not being anal and ridiculous and getting lost in how serious it can be, but they are still ferociously competitive - the Adrian Neweys, the Rob Marshalls, the Christian Horners and Dietrich Mateschitzs.

"So that's there and I'm motivated for myself to go out there and get the result.

"I could keep going for a long time as long as I'm knocking in good results, not losing performance through my age and motivated. I've just had a good year and I hope I can do the same next year."

Webber, though, did fall short of team-mate Sebastian Vettel in 2009, as the German claimed four victories and finished 14.5 points ahead of his more experienced team-mate.

But despite coming second at Red Bull, the 33-year-old insists it was a good season for him.

"It has been personally a very good season - it's something which there is always going to be comparisons with the guy with the same equipment," he added. "Coming out of this year, it's a year that I'm massively happy with.

"I'd have liked to have done a little better here and there, but I could have done a shedload worse. You always want to take what you have been given. I believe I got this year what I deserve and I've just got to keep focusing on where I can improve."

Your Comments

RandyAndy

"tagj21

Gr8 comment there mate and its good to read something that not only makes sense but is actually TRUE. Roll on 2010. He has proved himself over a long career and for the 1st time in that career he has had a team mate at his own level of skill. He may have been out qualified on the grid more often than not but his car was always heavier more often than not. In the races where it counts. He actually had a better record of finishes over the season. Now all you experts out there tell me what is real???

Vettel is very talented yes. So what does that make MW. Bloody talented and consisitant!!!"

raouldrake

"destryr said it all. Oh and btw diego, you're either a rookie or you're not. You can't be 'kind-of a rookie' or 'a-bit of a rookie'.

Webber is far from a waste of time, he did next to no testing before the 09' season due to being hit head-on by a 4WD while riding a mountain bike. In turn suffering a badly broken leg (compound fracture in fact) and not only managed 2 race wins, 4 seconds and 2 thirds, he helped drive RBR to 2nd in the Manufacturers Championship. But you maybe right, Christian Horner and Adrian Newey are complete amateurs, what do they know about F1 ?!?!!"

diego

"@ Raouldrake, Vettel is CLEARLY a rookie compared to Webber in terms of years in this business. Fine, technically he ISN'T a rookie but you get the jist. Mark Webber is a waste of time!"

destryr

"This is the first year that Webber has not beaten his team mate. It is also the first year that he has had access to a teamcar that has had the potential to win races consistently. He also had Vettel's measure for most of the season. In fact he was even ahead on the points table at one stage. We have not seen the last of Webber. With RBR - one year extension or not, he will continue to be at the top. Anyone remember that he broke his leg this time last year? Not a bad year considering he was still limping at the Australian & Malaysian GP."

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