Mark Webber’s Belgian Grand Prix lasted only as far as the first corner of the first lap in Sunday’s 44-lap race at Spa-Francorchamps.
The 28-year old Australian ran into the Ferrari of Rubens Barrichello at the notoriously tight La Source hairpin and damaged his front wing. Webber continued up through Eau Rouge as he tried to get back to the pits, but further damage was inflicted when he was left without any steering and made contact with Takumo Sato’s BAR as he tried to go round the stricken Jaguar.
Webber had made a strong start from the lights from seventh on the grid and was on the inside as the field headed towards La Source.
“I braked a touch too late to make La Source,” admitted Webber afterwards. ”Rubens took his normal line but I needed a bit more room as I was struggling to stop the car. That’s where we made contact. I got more damage up through Eau Rouge when I think the front wing went under the car. Takuma tried to go round me but I had lost my steering and we touched. He wasn’t too happy with me but there wasn’t much I could do as I had the rest of the field behind me.”
Webber will be back in the cockpit of his Jaguar Racing R5 this week when he’ll participate in three days of testing at Monza in preparation for the Italian Grand Prix there in two weeks.
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