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F1 will get better

F1 will get better

03/19/2010 11:00:48 PM

Mark Webber is convinced the excitement will return to Formula One this season despite the criticism levelled at the sport following a dour opening race in Bahrain.

Webber has this week suggested the only way his home grand prix in Australia next weekend will be enlivened is if rain hits Melbourne.

That is because F1 appears to have taken a wrong turn with its ban on in-race re-fuelling, and coupled with extremely durable tyres, it has led to calls for an urgent revamp.

Webber, though, believes the situation can only improve.

"There definitely will be some more exciting races than we saw in Bahrain - which won't be hard," he said.

"We've just come off the back of three really good seasons, with Lewis Hamilton going down to the last race in 2008 to win the championship, and Jenson Button's title fight last year in a season where we saw some really good overtaking."

"That is what we have to aim to get back to, and I think we can."

"I don't think there will be any big change taking place to improve racing, but teams will get used to the new rules and the different circuits we go to will play their part."

But for Webber, and many of the other drivers, their frustration at being unable to overtake around the Sakhir circuit was palpable, and remains annoying a few days after the event.

"Bahrain was a very disappointing race for me," the Red Bull star told BBC Sport.

"Some of the other drivers were going through the same thing - I know Jenson was with Michael (Schumacher) at the end."

"It's one thing it being difficult to overtake, but there wasn't even a sniff to have a look at a pass."

"Solutions? Well, I think the tyres are a pretty big part of it."

"They are set for the season, but they're different to last year and not as easy to follow at all. There's less grip now following people."

A suggestion raised by a number of the team bosses, such as Martin Whitmarsh at McLaren and Red Bull's Christian Horner, is for two pit stops to become mandatory.

"It wouldn't hurt it," added Webber.

"There is a lot of effort that goes into one pit stop. It's all over in under four seconds and it's pretty predictable now around when that stop will happen."

"If there are two stops that could involve a bit more tension and the potential for errors within the team as a whole will increase."

"Two stops will help, but that may not be the solution for more overtaking on the track."

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images
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