Webber admits struggle with Pirelli tyre switch

Mark Webber has singled out tyres as the crucial difference between his stellar 2010 season and a drop of performance so far this year.

The Australian, famous in the paddock for refusing to roll out “a shopping list of excuses”, was speaking from the St Lawrence river as he did a day of kayaking ahead of the Montreal weekend.

“You’ll never find me fishing.  I need to push myself,” said the 34-year-old.

He has sat in the sister Red Bull in 2011 while his teammate and reigning champion Sebastian Vettel won 5 of the 6 races so far.

“I hope I can continue my momentum of encouraging results and I hope to get my first win soon,” he told rds.ca, “because I was winning quite often last year.”

Once again explaining his reluctance to make excuses, Webber pointed to the tyres as a factor in 2011.

“They are very different and the drivers are very sensitive to that (change),” he said, referring to the switch from Bridgestone to Pirelli.

“It’s like a golfer or a tennis player changing his equipment.  When you’re at this level and trying to gain an edge with tiny details, the small changes can make big differences.

“But it’s up to the drivers to adapt,” added Webber.

By the same media outlet, Vettel on Wednesday was asked what has made the difference for him in 2011.

“There is not one ingredient which, alone, turns the tide,” the German insisted.  “It is the details, the little things, that all come together to make a big difference.”

© RIF | GMM