Dubai: Red Bull’s Mark Webber has launched a guised attack on new track designs that favour long straights and limit takeover opportunities, appealing to the sport not to lose its true racing spirit and origin.
Speaking at a desert safari in Al Khatim ahead of the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Webber said of the Yas Marina circuit: “It’s repetitive. The main track has got a lot of straights and they’re all in favour of these long straights nowadays like India and Korea where they have super long straights – but it hasn’t done much for us.”
“They are learning as they go on with designs – we can’t do anything in corners because drivers are so even and they all know what you want to do.”
Twilight aspect
“The twilight aspect is the most exciting starting in the afternoon finishing at night. But its not the most challenging, it’s reasonably repetitive that’s the way they designed it. In general it’s a good atmosphere and people enjoy the race there. I think it looks very good. It’s a phenomenal spectacle for TV so that’s something they definitely got right,” said Webber.
As for India’s new track, Webber added: “I like racing in Europe its less travel. India is a very good track no doubt about it. But we need to keep our roots as well, which is some beautiful tracks in Europe. We need to keep the Spas and the tracks all drivers love racing on like Silverstone and Monza. The new tracks are very rewarding to go to but will obviously take time to get established.”
“We need to give the new venues a chance but we’ve had a lot of new tracks crop up in the last three or four years – that’s our job to go to different tracks and drive on them. The season is extending to India and Russia its clearly a ‘world’ championship now which is important but we also need to keep some races in Europe.”