Mark Webber has vowed to improve despite now sharing a team garage with F1’s youngest ever double world champion.<\/p>\n
Less than a year ago, the Australian arrived at the season finale as a favourite for the championship, amid rumours he might be snapped up by Ferrari.<\/p>\n
But ten days into October of 2011, his teammate Sebastian Vettel is the back-to-back title winner.<\/p>\n
“We have had some problems but, ultimately, the problem is that I have not been fast enough or consistent enough to fight for wins with Sebastian,” admitted the 35-year-old.<\/p>\n
Webber said he has struggled to adapt to the Pirelli tyres and make good race starts but “It’s true that I have struggled with Seb”, he told the Spanish newspaper El Pais.<\/p>\n
“He has not had any problems with the tyres, with getting up and running at a good pace without destroying them.\u00a0 I have to improve,” said Webber.<\/p>\n
El Pais also reminded Webber that, last year amid the Silverstone front wing saga, he said that if he knew he was subordinate to his teammate, he would not sign a new deal.<\/p>\n
“What has changed to make you sign for another season?” asked the newspaper.<\/p>\n
Webber answered: “I re-signed because I had no choice.”<\/p>\n
But he denied that his single year deal is making him nervous, with drivers like Fernando Alonso and now Jenson Button locked into contracts for the long term.<\/p>\n
“They are younger than me, but it doesn’t worry me too much,” insisted Webber.\u00a0 “You can sign for two or three years but I am sure that Jenson and Fernando have clauses to opt out if they don’t have competitive cars.”<\/p>\n
And he insists he is not necessarily now Vettel’s ‘number 2’.<\/p>\n
“Well, both this year and last year we started on equal terms but it ended well for Sebastian.\u00a0 This time I have just been fighting to win races.<\/p>\n
“I have to be prepared because, maybe, he’s not going to like the new car or is not comfortable with it,” said Webber.<\/p>\n
But he acknowledged that Vettel is likely to remain up to speed because the RB8 “is going to be very similar to what we have now”.<\/p>\n
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