Mark Webber won’t be following team orders at the Nurburgring and could be the driver to back ahead of the German Grand Prix
The tenth Grand Prix of the season gets underway on Sunday at the Nurburgring in Germany and all eyes will be on Red Bull drivers Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber.
The Australian Webber was the fastest in Saturday, giving him his second pole start in as many races following an impressive 1:30.079 qualifying time, and is a worthwhile bet at 9/4, especially as he knows how to win at Nurburgring – having claimed a nine second victory over his team-mate Vettel back in 2009.
Speaking after his impressive qualifying, Webber told reporters that he had driven to his ‘limit’ and is clearly in top form going into the race and is a hot prospect to pick up his first victory of the 2011 season.
Webber added that he “will be in there pushing very hard tomorrow.”
However, one would be hard pushed not to back the sensational Vettel, who has a massive 80 point lead at the top of the drivers’ world championship. Despite for the first time this season not qualifying to start on the front – McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton will start in second – how could you bet against Vettel claiming a victory on his home soil?
Vettel, who is 9/4 to win on Sunday, said: “I’m looking forward to tomorrow – it doesn’t happen too often that you have so many people coming here and supporting the German drivers, so I will make sure I enjoy the race tomorrow.”
The 24-year-old will be keen to impress his home supporters and added that it was not “impossible” to win from third. A coy understatement which signals his intent to claim yet another pole finish – he has already has six victories this season.
However, the big tip for tomorrow could be to back Mclaren’s Jenson Button, who starts in seventh. Despite the 2008 world champion Hamilton starting in second, it could be Button that steals the show and makes a mockery of Vettel’s remarks about starting in third.
The 31-year-old Button knows all too well about overtaking to claim victory, having won a stunning victory in this year’s rain soaked Canadian Grand Prix where he went from last to first, and pipped Vettel on the final lap. Tomorrow’s forecast for Nurburgring is light rain which will aid the McLaren driver who is 20/1 to win.
Meanwhile, the Ferrari pair of Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa will start Sunday’s race in fourth and fifth respectively. The pair registered a one-two in last year’s German GP with Alonso claiming a five second victory in the now infamous ‘team orders’ race.
However, the Ferrari pair have not lived up to their potential this season but a wager on Massa to finish on the podium at 6/1, must be tempting.
If the rain comes down hard in Germany on Sunday, then Button could be the man to upset the odds, but if the showers scatter and the sun comes through then Germany will see their new F1 hero win yet another race.
