By Ian Lockwood
March 18 2007

Mark Webber might have taken the chequered flag in today’s ING Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, Melbourne but it certainly wasn’t in the fashion he was hoping after a fuel flap malfunction cost him valuable time after the first of two scheduled pit stops.

After yesterday’s encouraging performance for his Red Bull Racing team in official qualifying Webber started today’s 58-lap race strongly enough, maintaining his seventh place off the line. Although he was unable to match the pace of those ahead of him, he did manage to stay in front of the two Toyotas of Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher, and by the time of the first round of pit stops, had risen as high as fourth.

However, gremlins struck as he pitted on lap 21 when the fuel flap on his car opened and then closed firmly just as the team went to refuel the car. His mechanics had to prise the flap open with a screwdriver and this delay was to cost the team dearly. 

Unfortunately the fuel flap remained open for the rest of the race, resulting in a 7% loss in rear downforce which, although good for top speeds, was not so good for going round corners and helped to explain the dramatic drop-off in his lap times. Webber also struggled with a number of electronics problems just after his first stop and so had to reset the sensors from his steering wheel.

“A rough day,” conceded Webber afterwards, “but it was going well until our first stop. We probably lost five or six seconds in the pits with the fuel flap problem and then when it stayed open when I was back on the track, it killed the rear wing. I had less rear grip and lost the balance with the car and unfortunately all the good work I did against Trulli and Schumacher came undone. Even so, we showed promise and we learned a lot of interesting things from the race. There is so much more to come from the car – I don’t know when it will come, but it will – we just need to be patient and keep on working hard.”

Webber will now enjoy a deserved week’s holiday after a busy week in Melbourne, not only competing in the Grand Prix but also promoting his Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge which he’ll be returning to Australia to participate in November.