Webber bemoans European showing

Red Bull Racing’s Mark Webber felt he got the result his performance warranted after finishing out of the points in yesterday’s European Grand Prix in Valencia.

The Australian was the form driver in the field heading into yesterday’s race at the Spanish port city, his return of 24 points from the last three rounds seeing him emerge as the closest rival to championship leader Jenson Button. But Webber’s good run came to an abrupt halt in the oppressive Spanish heat as his Red Bull failed to get to grips with the demanding, 25-turn waterfront street circuit.

The 32-year-old started and finished ninth, having failed to hold off the mid-race charge of Button, who he had passed for position early in the race.

Button managed to salvage seventh place from his own below-par display, but with the Brawn GP driver’s team-mate Rubens Barrichello winning the race, Webber now finds himself third in the standings, 20.5 points down on the leader with six races remaining.

“No gains for us, which is the first time in a long time,” said Webber. “The long and the short of it was that I wasn’t quick enough – it was a tough race.

“I’ve been struggling all weekend and I think I got the result I deserved, which was no points, unfortunately. But we will dust ourselves down and move on to Spa [next weekend].”

Webber’s woes were as nothing compared to those of team-mate Sebastian Vettel, who qualified in a superb fourth place despite suffering a blown engine in final practice on Saturday.

The young German, a two-time race winner this season, worked wonders to split the Brawns on the starting grid but his race quickly unravelled.

First the team failed to get enough fuel in the car at his first pit stop, necessitating a second trip to his garage, and then his replacement Renault engine also let go to end his afternoon.

Vettel is now 25 points behind Button in the drivers’ standings, and he admitted to his frustrations after failing to score for the fifth time in 11 races this season.

“In terms of the championship, I will fight to the last breath, but it’s not good to have retired when you’re hunting and want to get more points than your opponent,” he said. “You’re in a position to do it, but then you don’t finish the race.”