Webber blames poor tyre call at Hungary GP

Wednesday, 3 August 2011 00:36 -     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Mark Webber blamed himself but teammate and championship leader Sebastian Vettel demanded improvements from their Red Bull team after more disappointment at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Winner Jenson Button in his McLaren overtook pole-sitter Vettel early in Sunday’s race at Hungagoring as Red Bull failed to bring home victory for the fifth time in 11 races it has started from first this season.

“I’m not completely happy after starting from pole, I thought we could win the race,” Vettel said after the chaotic and incident-filled race in drizzly, changeable conditions.

“The most important message of the last two races is that McLaren are very competitive and we’re not happy about that.

“There was a chance and we didn’t use it, so we have to look into that.”

Reigning series champion Vettel pressured 2009 champion Button for the victory right until the end of the 70-lap race, finishing 3.588 seconds behind, with Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso in third.

In a race of a record 88 pit stops, Button made three.

Vettel’s second placing stretched his already dominant lead in the championship standings to 85 points over teammate Webber, who finished fifth after starting sixth on the grid.

Lewis Hamilton of McLaren is 88 points behind and Alonso is 89 points adrift, despite both teams making significant gains on Red Bull in the most recent races, while Button is 100 behind Vettel.

With a race win worth 25 points, Vettel is in control with eight races left and his closest rivals at least three victories away.

Webber finished nearly 50 seconds behind Vettel after making the wrong tyre call during a race hit by drizzle.

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