Webber: Drivers are united

Mark Webber claims Formula One drivers are “as one” in the demand to have their voices heard by the sport’s rulers.

The Australian is adamant the 20 drivers who line up on the grid play an unrivalled part in Formula One’s appeal and should not be taken for granted.

FIA president Max Mosley today cancelled a planned meeting with the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association to discuss safety measures after being upset by comments from David Coulthard, one of the organisation’s leading figures.

But Webber, who drives for Williams, today insisted the drivers have a right to be heard and are standing together to get their way after the 14-car pull-out in Indianapolis last month.

“There are some concerns from the GPDA after Indianapolis,” he said at an event organised by watchmakers Oris, one of Williams’ key sponsors.

“We work together, all the drivers, we are as one. I wish it had never happened, I really do.

“Time will tell if the drivers are a voice when it comes to these matters.

“At the end of the day people turned up to see a race. There was absolutely no way in the world we wanted to pull out of a race, we wanted to run.

“We don’t want to run the sport but we are part of the whole deal. It’s all about the drivers – the public come to see the drivers.

“Look at Spain, five years ago there were 30,000 people at the race and now there are over 100,000 – and that’s because we have a Spanish guy in Fernando Alonso leading the championship.

“We are important when we are united – it’s good that we can stand up for the sport we love because essentially we are all fans of Formula One. The most important thing for us is our safety.”

Webber has other matters to worry about, however, after BMW’s decision to buy Sauber, effectively cutting Williams adrift at the end of this season.

Williams are in talks with several potential suppliers – believed to be Honda, Toyota and Cosworth – but Webber has stressed the need for manufacturer backing if his team are to recapture former glories.

“Frank has been through tough weekends and tough years before and come out the other side and I’m sure he’ll do it again,” he said.

“If something is not going in the direction you want you have to address it. We are not sure what engine we will have next season but a decision will be made soon and we’ll take it from there. Either we stick with BMW or we look to find another engine.

“You need a manufacturer to succeed in Formula One, it is absolutely the only way. I’m sure we will have a competitive engine next season.”