Mark Webber is looking to sign off the 2009 Formula One season in style in Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The Red Bull driver cruised to victory in an incident-filled Brazilian Grand Prix last time out, sealing fourth place in the drivers' standings in the process. And, having claimed his highest finish to date, the Australian has high hopes, saying: “I’m expecting Red Bull Racing to be pretty strong in Abu Dhabi.
“We’ve been pretty strong since Singapore, so there’s no reason to suggest that we can’t be fighting towards the sharp end again, no question about it. As usual, qualifying will be very important on a street circuit and then we’ll see how the race goes from there. We’re looking to finish off on a high for the team."
With Jenson Button wrapping up the title at Interlagos, the teams head to the brand new Yas Marina circuit already looking toward next year.
Webber added: “I think it will be a good finale to the season and a timely end to the championship. We’re all ready to start next year now, as the championship titles are decided.”
'We're looking to finish off on a high for the team' – Mark Webber
Sunday’s race will be the first at Yas Marina, which was constructed by the man responsible for the circuits in Malaysia, Bahrain, China, Istanbul and Valencia, German architect Hermann Tilke.
Red Bull reserve driver David Coulthard believes the latest venue to be added to the F1 calendar offers drivers and their teams a “two-stage” track. Coulthard, who has driven on the circuit, said: “The first half of the lap until corner nine is classic new track. There’s the fast section at the beginning from Turn One to the Turn Four tight hairpin with the grandstand literally overhead, giving great viewing for the spectators.
“The 1.2km back straight should give an opportunity for some slipstreaming and overtaking and then the backside of the circuit has a real street circuit feel to it where you come along the section that takes you to the hotel and underneath it, via a series of 90-degree right-handers, [then] left-handers, before opening out to the end of the lap and a medium-speed corner onto the start-finish straight.
“It’s a very challenging pit-in and equally difficult pit-out, which is actually in a tunnel under the circuit and is going to make it particularly challenging for the drivers coming in and out of pitstops. I think the twilight aspect of the race will be more of a visual one for the spectators and for the TV, but I think for the drivers it will be absolutely fine, there is enough overhead lighting. It will just blend from day into night, no problem.”
Webber added: “I’ve heard the Yas Marina circuit has some nice undulations, which sounds good. It’s got a few fast sections to it and a slow section to finish off. I think it will be pretty dusty, but we’ll clean it up pretty quick; it’s always nice to go to a new track.”
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