Mark Webber Emphasizes The Importance Of Consistency

Mark Webber has emphasized the importance of being consistent in this highly unpredictable season, as the Australian driver aims to further reduce Fernando Alonso’s lead in the Drivers’ Championship at this weekend’s German Grand Prix.

The Australian driver has scored points in every race except Spain so far this season, including victories at two of the most iconic races on the calendar at Monte-Carlo and Silverstone. During the first seven races of the 2012 season, seven different drivers took victory making Formula 1 history. Mark Webber is confident that more ‘fresh’ winners will rise to the top as this highly unique season progresses.

“I think consistency at all venues in all conditions – all the challenges drivers are always faced with – is probably more important this season.” Explained Mark Webber, “My prediction is that we will see more fresh winners this year. Not just the same winners. This is because the cars are said to be pretty even this year. Maybe they are, but it certainly is one of the tightest seasons, no doubt.”

Prior to the British Grand Prix last time out, many predicted that true pecking order would begin surface after the race. When Mark Webber took victory at Silverstone ahead of Fernando Alonso and team-mate Sebastian Vettel, it was undeniable that this theory was looking likely.

However, Mark Webber is not sure that this is the case. With drivers such as Kimi Raikkonen, Romain Grosjean, Michael Schumacher and even Felipe Massa still yet to win this season, it’s feasible to predict that either of these drivers could be victorious this weekend.

“There is not a single person in this paddock who can predict who’s going to win this weekend.” Continued Mark Webber, “So all you can do is do your best. There have been people struggling for form and some people who have good form – and it’s up to the people with good form to keep it, and for those a bit in the doldrums to come back. It is not like years gone by when you turned up with a McLaren or a Williams and go boom, boom, front row and disappear. It is not like that this year.”

With the Pirelli tyres still behaving differently at each venue this season, it’s highly possible for the unpredictability to continue right through to the end of the season in November. For Mark Webber, consistency is the target as the 35-year-old strives become Australia’s first Formula 1 World Champion since 1980.

Sebastian Vettel: “We Have One Of The Most Consistent Cars”

After finishing Sunday’s British Grand Prix 3rd, Sebastian Vettel believes Red Bull have one of the most consistent cars on the 2012 grid. Admittedly the reigning World Champion retired with a mechanical issue in Valencia, but that has so far been the Milton Keynes-based outfit’s only retirement of the season.

Looking back on Red Bull’s previous results, and the consistency of the reigning Champions is abundantly clear. Since the start of the 2010 season, Red Bull have only suffered eight retirements, with only three of those being down to issues on the car. Red Bull have taken 24 race victories since 2010, including the three so far taken in 2012. This has enabled them to be crowned Constructors’ Champions for the last two years.

Although the 2012 season has so far not been dominated by Red Bull, or any one particular team for that matter, Sebastian Vettel remains confident that his team have one of the most consistent cars on the grid. They are so far the only team to have taken three victories in 2012, however it is Mark Webber who is currently the leading Red Bull driver in this highly unpredictable season. When asked for his judgement on the RB8, the reigning World Champion had this to say:

“We had a good car right from the beginning – a car that at least brought us into the top five at every race. And we have seen how fast it can happen that instead of P1 you end in P5, so we have to be satisfied. I would even go so far as to say that we have one of the most consistent cars as we’ve only had one retirement. So yes, I would say that the package is good – and for sure good enough to attack at the next races.”

Sebastian Vettel has yet to win at the either of the next two races on the 2012 calendar, in Germany and Hungary. The German hasn’t ever won a race in July come to that, and will undeniably be striving to correct that fact with a victory in front of his adoring home fans in two weeks time around the Hockenheimring.

Nico Hulkenberg Not Overly Happy With His Season So Far

Amid all the excitement and unpredictability that has made the 2012 Formula 1 season so unique, one midfield team who has yet to shine is Force India, and most notably Nico Hulkenberg. When the 24-year-old German made his debut with Williams in 2010, many tipped him as a future World Champion.

However, after a year of being a test driver for Force India, Nico Hulkenberg has now returned to Formula 1 in a season which is exceedingly competitive and unpredictable. With only 7 points scored in the first seven races, Hulkenberg is understandably unhappy with how his season has gone so far.

“Not overly happy.” Explained the German when asked how satisfied he is with his season so far in an interview with the Official Formula 1 Website. “In regards of results and the standings I had hoped that the outcome would be better. Of course at the first four races I was in something of a warm-up mode to get back into racing and later I was not blessed with luck at times, as there were situations that were beyond my control.”

With Nico Hulkenberg’s team-mate Paul di Resta having scored considerably more points than him, many have perceived the advantage within Force India to be with the Scot. However, Hulkenberg is adamant that the overall balance between himself and his team-mate is not as big as it seems.

“Well, I started really strongly in Australia, outperforming him.” Continued Hulkenberg. “At some of the following races it got tight between the two of us and then I have to confess I made some unnecessary mistakes. And there you have it: in a season so marginal, a small mistake can cost you several places. So overall the balance between Paul and myself is pretty even – even if the results do not show that.”

Although Force India have yet to score a competitive result, whereas other midfield teams such as Sauber and Williams have already stepped onto the podium, Hulkenberg believes the Silverstone-based outfit are one of the most consistent teams on the grid. Even though Force India haven’t scored high amounts of points at each race, they have only retired once in 2012.

“If you look at it you would come to the conclusion that Force India is the most consistent team so far.” Insisted Hulkenberg, “Sure, we have not had any glory, but we also haven’t had any real reason for tears. We are in the midfield and consistent.”

After this weekends European Grand Prix in Valencia, the Formula 1 paddock will move swiftly on to the British Grand Prix at the legendary Silverstone circuit. During this race weekend, Force India are set to introduce several new upgrades to their car.

“Yes, Silverstone will see some major upgrades: a new floor, if I am right, and a number of other new parts. But I think every team is gearing up then, so it will be important to make your updates work.”

Although Nico Hulkenberg isn’t overly happy with his season so far, he has finished in the points on three occasions and has only failed to finish one race. As current Championship leader Lewis Hamilton has shown, consistency seems to be the key in this highly competitive 2012 season.

Lewis Hamilton Feeling The Pressure In 2012

Although Lewis Hamilton took victory at the Canadian Grand Prix, which in turn meant the Briton could leave Montreal leading the Drivers’ Championship, the 2008 World Champion has explained how he is feeling enormous amounts of pressure to produce good results this season.

With this unique season ever changing, Lewis Hamilton has stated how consistency is a better aim, rather than individual strong results. The McLaren driver has so far successfully finished every race this season in the points, which is his best start to a Formula 1 season since his debut back in 2007.

“My win in Montreal was obviously an extremely satisfying moment for me – but, actually, it does very little to alter things in the World Championship.” Explained Lewis Hamilton, “We may have won in Canada, but there’s an enormous amount of pressure to keep racking up good results at every Grand Prix. I think that consistency, rather than individual strong results, will be the key to winning this World Championship, so we need to back it up in Valencia with another strong result.”

After seven different winners in the first seven races of the season, many are predicting another different winner this weekend in Valencia. Even former World Champion Lewis Hamilton is struggling to make a firm prediction ahead of this weekends race, however his only aim is to score another strong and consistent result.

“People are always asking me to predict what will happen at the next race and I always tell them it’s really difficult to make an accurate prediction.” Continued Hamilton, “But I’ll be heading to Valencia feeling super-motivated to get another strong result and maintain my momentum before we head into Silverstone and the Santander British Grand Prix.”

Lewis Hamilton has never won at the European Grand Prix, whereas McLaren have never won around the Valencia Street Circuit altogether. Both Lewis Hamilton and his team-mate Jenson Button will be striving to take victory this weekend, however Hamilton seems quite content on consistency this season, and it seems to be paying off!

Lewis Hamilton Targeting Consistency Over Victory At Monaco

McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton is targeting consistency over pushing for the win in next weekends Monaco Grand Prix, even though the British star has yet to win a Grand Prix in 2012. Lewis Hamilton has scored points at every race so far this season, and will be aiming to continue that trend around the streets of Monte-Carlo.

Lewis Hamilton has only ever won the Monaco Grand Prix once in his career, during the wet/dry 2008 race. Since then, the Brit hasn’t had much luck around the Principality, failing to even step on the podium since his win in 2008. However, with Formula 1 in 2012 being highly unpredictable, consistency could well be the key for Lewis Hamilton and his Championship chances.

“Monaco is a very special circuit. It’s up there with Silverstone as the place where I most want to do well at. Still, it’s important not to lose sight of the fact that, despite pushing for the win, consistency and scoring decent points is currently the most sensible way to tackle this World Championship. I’ve scored points at every race, and I’m only eight points off the lead of the championship. That’s a really encouraging statistic and it’s reassuring to see my approach is paying off. Nevertheless, I’m coming off the back of two relatively disappointing results and there would be no better place for the cards to fall in my favor than at Monaco.”

The first five races of this topsy-turvy 2012 season has seen five different winners from five different teams, and Lewis Hamilton will be eager to become the sixth different winner of 2012. A victory next Sunday would be the Brits first since last seasons Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, when Sebastian Vettel suffered a rare retirement on the opening lap.

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