• Australian Grand Prix

Home victory would be 'sensational' for Webber

Mark Webber has yet to step on the podium at his home grand prix © Sutton Images

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• Race:
• Australian Grand Prix

• Drivers:
• Mark Webber

• Teams:
• Red Bull

Mark Webber says winning his home grand prix "would be a sensational feeling" but has warned the first race of the season is always tough to execute.

In 12 grands prix at Melbourne Webber's best finish is fourth place at last year's race. With Red Bull expected to be challenging for victory this weekend, Webber admitted that it would a "very, very special" race to win but warned that a lot of things have to come together for the team to be able to get the most out of a new car.

"Any grand prix victory is special," Webber said. "I'm lucky to have had that feeling a few times now which is great. Aside from Monaco, the British Grand Prix, those very prestigious races, this is for sure up there in the top three of events a driver wants to win.

"Your home grand prix is for sure very, very special so it would be a sensational feeling to be able to do it, but all of the anniversaries (60 years since the first Formula Libre race at Albert Park) and all of the nice fuzzy stuff is not really going to make it any easier for me.

"I realise we've got to put together a clean weekend and pull it all together, make all the right decisions. We're capable of it but we're also mindful that it's a very tricky weekend to execute, especially with it being the first event and things like that."

Webber also said the fact that his home grand prix is the first race of the season means the teams are slightly apprehensive.

"It's just great to come to Australia at any stage let alone for a race so we're all looking forward to finally getting racing. It's a lot of testing that goes on in Spain and we can get down to what we all enjoy doing and that's racing the car. I think all the teams, drivers come here with a little bit more anxiety let's say just because it's the first grand prix of the year so whether it's the pit stops, whether it's whatever department you're in it's a fresh challenge for the year. For sure by round six, round seven everyone's a little bit more comfortable with their jobs but it's the same for everyone."

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