Mark Webber says the Formula 1 world title is Jenson Button‘s to lose as the Brawn GP driver prepares to take a 23-point lead into the German Grand Prix 2009.
The Englishman has won six of the first eight races, and Webber says only mechanical problems can deny him now.
“I don’t see Button losing the fight himself,” Webber told BBC Sport.
“He’s been so impressively consistent and just doesn’t make mistakes. If he loses the title now, it will be down to a problem from the team, not him.”
Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel is the only other driver to take the chequered flag this season, winning in wet conditions in China and at Silverstone where Brawn GP struggled with lower track temperatures.
But Webber believes Button, who holds a 28.5-point advantage over him and a 25-point lead over Vettel, has built a big enough cushion to protect his position in the final nine races.
“Button has such a big lead that he can afford not to win points in a few races and still stay ahead,” said the Australian, who has been on the podium four times in 2009.
from bbc
Red Bull and Toro Rosso are changing their reserve driver for the rest of the Formula 1 season.
Reigning British Formula 3 series champion Jaime Alguersuari replaces Brendon Hartley, who will continue racing in European F3.
Alguersuari, who is 19, will deputise if either team’s first-choice drivers is unable to race.
The Spaniard’s first race as reserve driver will be the German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring on 12 July.
Red Bull will be keen to keep up their momentum from the most recent race, the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, where Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber finished first and second, helping the team consolidate second place in the constructors’ championship.
Vettel and Webber lie third and fourth in the drivers’ championship behind Brawn duo Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello, while Toro Rosso drivers Sebastian Buemi and Sebastien Bourdais are 14th and 16th respectively.
from bbc