- Australian Grand Prix
Webber dreaming of 'special day'
- Race:
- Australian Grand Prix
- Championship:
- FIA Formula One World Championship
- Drivers:
- Mark Webber
- Teams:
- Red Bull
Mark Webber goes into this weekend's Australian Grand Prix with the best chance of winning his home race to date, a feat he says would provide a "beautiful feeling."
Both Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton have stated that they think the Red Bull RB6 is the quickest car on the grid after Sebastian Vettel's impressive pace in Bahrain. And Webber, who won his first two grands prix in 2009, admits that to win on home soil would be the greatest achievement of his career.
"It would be a beautiful feeling of course," said Webber on Thursday. "I don't think there is any driver that would not like to have a chance to win their home grand prix. I am very lucky to have a home grand prix as not every driver on the grid has a home race. I have been coming here for a long time and the car is performing very well and we have the best opportunity to have a crack at it but you need everything perfect, everything needs to be executed right."
Webber drove brilliantly in an under-powered Minardi to finish fifth on his grand prix debut in 2002 at Albert Park for fellow Australian Paul Stoddart's team. The local favourite recently had a stand at Albert Park named after him but the ultimate honour would be to become the first ever Australian to win his home race.
"It would be a beautiful feeling and it would be up there with Monaco and there are a few special events you would like to win. Brazil was special as it was a race where Ayrton Senna and people like that raced on the same track, the same podium, so that had a lot of history to it as well but here as your home race it would be a nice event.
"I have seen Mick Doohan win on motorbikes on Philip Island and to win a world championship event in your own backyard is clearly a special day for any sportsman or woman."

