We have to beat Mercedes to pole, says Webber

Mark Webber says that Red Bull can’t rely on Mercedes having tyre issues in the Monaco GP – and thus his team aims to outqualify the silver cars and control the race from the front, as it has done at the same venue in recent years.

“They certainly have some Saturday form, which is not a bad card to play at this venue,” said Webber of Mercedes. “Again let’s see how the tyres pan out on Sunday. If they’re quite calm and they still have their qualy pace, then it could be quite nice for them. If they don’t, then there’s options to make it more difficult for them.

“Our goal is still to outqualify them of course, shoot for pole, and be in a position where we’re in charge, and not trying to deal with the in the race.

“It’s like serving in tennis, you’re in control of what’s going on to a larger degree, like I was last year. It was a one-stop last year, and we had to get to that target lap, and we got to that target lap. We pitted, we came back out, and then we nursed the tyres to the end of the race. I saved the tyres last year for 95% of the race last year and still won the race. That was the rules last year, but I doubt it will be the rules this year.”

Monaco specialist Webber made it clear that he has mixed feelings about the event as a whole.

“I think it’s a very dramatic back drop, I love the ocean, I love the cliff faces, just to have a race track here is quite exceptional. But for me in terms of all the small dogs in the handbags and that sort of stuff, it’s not really my thing…”