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Rabu, 23 Februari 2011

Webber: Delay won't make a big difference

Mark Webber doesn't believe that the delay in the start of the F1 season will serve as a great benefit to the teams

With the Bahrain Gran Prix postponed due to unrest in the Arab nation, the start of the 2011 season will be delayed by two weeks, with the Australian GP on the 27th March will now be the season-opener.

It has been suggested that certain teams who may be struggling with the development of their 2011 challenger will benefit from the delay, but Webber thinks the difference will be negligible.

"I don't think the extra two or three weeks will make a huge difference to the championship," Webber told Reuters

"It might give someone or some teams a bit more time to get their house in order for the first race but also the guys that are in good shape are polishing and sharpening their knives pretty well.

"Everyone can benefit from a bit more time so I'm not going to read too much into that."

There has been intense speculation regarding the future of the Australian Grand Prix, with various members of the Victorian government suggesting that Melbourne should cut its losses and do away with the race.

But Webber is unfazed by the talk, instead focusing on the positives of hosting the opening race.

"That's normal stuff mate, isn't it?" the Australian said of the negative rumours.

"It always comes around each year.

"This [being the season opener] is a real great positive boost. As usual with someone's little bit of misfortune or bad luck, which is certainly the case with this one, someone receives a bit of a boost."

The 34-year-old admits that the upcoming season should be an exciting one although he's not 100% sure what to expect.

"I think every grand prix this year has a chance to be pretty interesting," he said.

"We don't know quite yet how the races are going to unfold with strategy and how the rear wing's going to work and KERS [Kinetic Energy Recovery System] and that sort of stuff.

"When you get down to the nitty gritty of actually what's going to happen on Sunday afternoon and how exciting it's going to be, we don't quite know yet," he added.

Source: Planet-F1