MARK WEBBER'S DELIGHT
Red Bull Aussie all smiles now F1 row settled
MARK WEBBER had a big smile on his face when I met him at Donington Park after the budget-cut compromise removed threats of a breakaway Formula One series.
The Red Bull driver, who is a long-standing director of the Grand Prix Drivers Association, spoke exclusively to Vroom At The Top while watching the World Superbikes with his partner Ann and bike-mad dad Alan.
Aussie Webber admitted: "I'm really happy! Now Red Bull and all of us have a clear stance on where we are, like most teams I think our position is very good and finally the plot has been heard.
"You can call it a victory if you like as now the eight teams, as well as the manufacturers and drivers all have a clear picture of where we can go.
"Now that we are all married again we can take some positive steps forward - It looks like there has been a compromise from the FIA and the teams seem to be happy with that at the moment."
Speaking of the proposed budget cuts which are set to come into F1 over the next two years, the 33-year old added: "At the moment I don't have a full understanding of what has been agreed with regards to the dropping of budget cuts as it changing all the time, but the teams have a good feeling of where they want to go.
"From what I understand, the position that Ferrari and Toyota have taken on slashing budgets from two or three years ago is a massive step forward for them to try and help the smaller teams and new teams coming new to the sport.
"I know that Ross Brawn is very happy with the position that the bigger teams have taken and like me he feels it can only benefit F1."
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NIGEL MANSELL'S FAMILY AFFAIR
FORMER F1 champ Nigel Mansell had itchy feet watching his son behind the wheel this week - so he persuaded his youngster to let HIM drive.
The 56-year old tested his son Greg's Ultimate Motorsport Formula Renault at Silverstone on Friday and showed he hadn't lost his touch, lapping just six seconds off the fastest practice time.
The 1992 world champion, who wanted to get some laps in ahead of his demonstration run, said: "It was very good of Greg to let me borrow his car before qualifying. We have a few witnesses that the car is in one piece and I didn't stall it or spin it!.
"I won my world championship with Renault power so it always good to feel their engines behind you again. My memories whenever I go down Hangar Straight are of the days in qualifying with 1,000bhp, so you always want a bit more power.
"I gave myself a bit of a fright when I went to hit the brakes for Becketts, I moved my right foot across and ended up hitting the accelerator. I managed to slow the car down in time as I wasn't going flat-out, after that the left-foot braking took a bit of getting used to.
"I had thought that when I got older I wouldn't be bothered about driving any more, but it's terrible."
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ROMAIN GROSJEAN TESTS GP3
RENAULT F1 test driver and GP2 championship leader Romain Grosjean jumped behind the wheel for the first shakedown of the new GP3 car this week.
The new Dallara-built car, which is to act as a feeder series to GP2 next year, made it's debut appearance at the Paul Ricard track in the South of France on Monday.
Grosjean said: "I'm very glad to have had this first taste of the GP3 car. We have had a productive day with very few small problems and many good surprises, namely in terms of speed. I have been impressed by the level of reliability of the car for a first run.
"This is a great car! It's really fun to drive and the level of downforce is already quite impressive, although we still need to determine which one will be used.
"Compared to a Formula Three car, the acceleration is better and speeds in fast corners are similar - one thing for sure is that the GP3 car will be notably fast! The paddle shift on the steering wheel is also a great addition that will definitely prepare GP3 drivers to step into the next category, GP2."
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JAIME ALGUERSUARI ON THE UP
RED BULL'S new ambitious reserve driver Jaime Alguersuari already has his eyes firmly fixed on a F1 drive next season.
Although the Spaniard, who snatched the dream job from Brendon Hartley, will not start his position until next weekend's German Grand Prix the determined youngster says he hopes to follow in the footsteps of Sebastian Vettel and Sebastien Buemi.
Alguersuari declared:"My main objective and aim is to be as a race driver at Toro Rosso, this would be for me the best. It's going to be tough, also because there is not much testing to do. But once you get to F1, everything changes - we have seen that with guys like Sebastien Buemi and Sebastian Vettel.
"My main goal is to get to learn in F1, to develop as a driver there, because it's the best place to learn. You have seen drivers start in F1 very young, they learn there and get better, and I think that's what you want to do.
"It is the philosophy of Red Bull to give drivers a chance to do that, and I think that's the best philosophy too. You see what Buemi has done, and what Vettel has been able to do, and it gives you a lot of confidence and motivation that you could do the same.
"You just have to trust in Red Bull and try to show them that you deserve a chance, and earn it. To be the reserve driver for Red Bull and Toro Rosso is very positive and for me it's just the first part of it."
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