Modest Webber talks down hattrick

26 May 2010 - 17:07 By Sapa-AFP
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Mark Webber remained level-headed this week as he prepared for this weekend's Turkish Grand Prix - and his first bid to claim a Formula One hat-trick.

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Amid speculation about his future with the pace-setting Red Bull team, the 33-year-old Australian made clear he has his sights set on nothing more than another strong performance - rather than rumours that he could be on his way to Ferrari or another team next year.

He said: "I've just won two races back-to-back and people are asking me where I'm going to drive next year! I'm only thinking about the next race in Turkey... The rest will take care of itself.

There are hundreds of points up for grabs and I'm concentrating on the job in hand."

Webber leads the drivers' championship after convincing wins in Spain and Monaco. He is level on 78 points with his 22-year-old Red Bull team-mate German Sebastian Vettel and focussed on taking each race as it comes as he lays the foundations for his title bid.

Following his spectacular triumph in Monte Carlo, Webber was showered in praise and received messages of congratulations from all over the world - including those from former greats like Stirling Moss, Jack Brabham, Alain Prost and Nigel Mansell.

"It seems like a lot of people watch the Monaco Grand Prix," he quipped.

"And, I suppose it's amazing because, only three or four weeks ago, everyone was talking about the dream team at McLaren or Michael (Schumacher) doing this or that,' said Webber.

"But I'm not getting carried away -- our sport changes in a flash. I know that."

While Webber pinched himself and tightened his jaw, the man under most pressure Brazilian Felipe Massa of Ferrari focussed on his immediate future.

The 29-year-old Latin American will hope to redisover his best form back at the Turkish circuit where he won three times in succession from 2006 to 2008 - and banish the rumours that he will be dumped by Ferrari at the end of this year.

Massa said the confidence he gained from his hat-trick of wins in Turkey would give him a big boost this weekend.

He said: "It's a great memory. It's a track which I love to race on, I enjoy driving this track and I won three times in five races."

"It's a great story for my career, it gives me even more motivation to go there and push even harder to fight for the victory."

Massa, fifth in the title race behind the two Red Bull men, his Ferrari team-mate Spaniard Fernando Alonso and defending champion Briton Jenson Button of McLaren, said he thinks Ferrari has the potential to be very competitive in Turkey.

And he added that the fact Ferrari would be celebrating its 800th Grand Prix at Istanbul added further motivation.

Team-mate and two-times champion Alonso said he remained confident of mounting a title challenge despite an inconsistent opening to the year.

"If you think that, of the first six races, four times I found myself last or thereabouts after the opening laps and I am third in the world championship, three points off the leader, I have no reason not to be confident," he said.

Button, last year's winner for the then-Brawn GP team, is also confident.

He said: "We've got some new upgrades for this race, which I think underlines the strength of our development push."

His successor at Brawn, now Mercedes, German Michael Schumacher, 41, will also benefit from an upgraded car.

He said: "I am definitely looking forward to the weekend, especially as our guys back at the factory have worked immensely hard recently to provide us again with an upgraded car. It is clear that we want their efforts to pay off."

After being penalised in Monaco, for a audacious passing move on Alonso under Safety Car rules, Schumacher is down in ninth place in his pursuit of an eighth world title.

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