Nuerburgring, Germany: Mark Webber remains unbowed both in his attitude to racing and wish to remain at Red Bull despite the team orders row which engulfed the British Formula One Grand Prix two weeks ago.
The Australian, who ignored messages not to try to pass championship leader Sebastian Vettel late on before finally relenting, arrived for Sunday`s German Grand Prix in his usual acerbic mood but left reporters in no doubt how he felt.
"I`d say the answer to that is yes," he said when asked if he wanted to stay with the world champions next year after team bosses said a deal was under discussion with his current contract up at the end of the year. "Silverstone had zero impact on the contract," he said. "I could have been faster with my decision."
Asked if he had sought assurances from the team that he would not start next year as a defacto number two, he added: "Not a bad question."
Webber, in second place and 80 points behind Vettel at the halfway stage of the season, does not expect a similar row at the Nuerburgring or for the rest of the season but is still gunning for the German.
"It`s not often that you are closing in on each other in the last laps. That was the awkward thing. We are free to race, most of the time," he said before remarking on his improvement in pace compared to Vettel in recent weeks.
"Things have changed a bit the last few races. We need to make it as difficult as possible for Sebastian not to run away with it."
Bureau Report