Miracle escape for Webber

MARK WEBBER was a relieved man after surviving a 190mph smash that gave a different meaning to the slogan ‘Red Bull Gives You Wings’.

Webber was sent airborne after crashing into the back of the Lotus of Heikki Kovalainen on the fastest part of the circuit in yesterday’s European Grand Prix.

Spectacular on-board footage captured the moment as Webber hurtled into Kovalainen, the force of the impact flipping up the Australian and somersaulting him through the air.

Webber’s Red Bull initially landed upside down on its nose before momentum sent it bouncing off the track onto the rear of the car, eventually righting itself.

A 100-metre slide into a tyre barrier followed, with Webber pinging back off it like a rubber ball and eventually coming to rest.

Within seconds Webber was throwing his steering wheel out of the car and removing his HANS (head and neck support) device, a clear sign he was unharmed.

“I knew as soon as it happened that I was involved in a huge crash, that I was just a passenger,” said Webber.

“Headline stuff was going through my head when I was in the air, but that’s the game we’re in and some days that happens.

“I lost some points, but in the end when you’re up there, you’re not worried about points.

“I was worried about hitting a bridge or something in the air. I knew I was a long way up.

“Fortunately, the first was not too hard. It was okay because I had a massive forward momentum, so that was good.

“I remain incredibly positive. We go on, it’s halfway through the championship, so bloody hell, let’s get on with it.”

The chassis was the one in which Webber won his races in Monaco and Barcelona, and he added: “It has been good to me, and it was good to me today as it saved me.”

Meanwhile Sebastian Vettel may have won the race, but it is Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button who head into their home race at Silverstone in a fortnight’s time with their tails up.

After failing to win from pole in three previous attempts this year, Vettel finally cracked it to claim his second win of the season and ninth of his career.

But with Hamilton and Button also on the podium it means the last two world champions go into the British Grand Prix on July 11 first and second in the standings, and with McLaren leading the way in the constructors’ championship.

“For myself, Jenson and the team, it is very, very positive to be leading both championships,” said Hamilton.

“We’ve been working so hard all year, and it is great we are now getting the results we deserve.”

Hamilton’s chance came thanks to Webber’s smash on lap 10 that immediately brought the safety car into play. As Webber emerged unscathed, a host of drivers dived into the pits to make their stops, Hamilton in particular passing the safety car as it emerged on track.

Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, however, were caught directly behind it, delaying their stop and wrecking their race.

Hamilton was eventually given a drive-through penalty, managing to stay second, but blowing any hope of challenging Vettel.

The young German, who is now 12 points behind Hamilton, said: “It is about time I won from pole, so we can all be extremely proud.”