Superior brake parts cleanerSuperior brake parts cleaner

Webber slams ‘first lap nutcase’ Grosjean

Autosport

Autosport9:05am 8 October 2012

markwebber-suzuka-crash-f1

Mark Webber branded Romain Grosjean as the “first-lap nutcase” and his behaviour as ‘embarrassing’ after a collision caused by the Frenchman on the first lap of the Japanese Grand Prix cost the Red Bull driver a chance of a podium.

Grosjean hit third-placed Webber into Turn 2 and spun the Australian round, necessitating a pitstop for Webber, who rejoined at the back of the field.

The race stewards gave Grosjean a ten-second stop-and-go penalty for the incident.

Afterwards a livid Webber suggested to Sky television that the Frenchman might benefit from another enforced period on the sidelines, following his one-race ban at Monza after causing a first-corner accident in Belgium.

“I haven’t obviously seen what happened at the start but the guys confirmed that it was the first-lap nutcase again Grosjean,” he said.

“The rest of us are trying to fight for some decent results each weekend but he is trying to get to the third corner as fast as he can at every race.

“It makes it frustrating because a few big guys probably suffered from that and maybe he needs another holiday.

“He needs to have a look at himself, it was completely his fault. How many mistakes can you make, how many times can you make the same error? First-lap incidents… yeah… it’s quite embarrassing at this level for him.”

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner added that Grosjean’s Lotus team might have to consider how to deal with the recurring first-corner incidents.

“I think the most concerning thing is when it is repeat incidents,” he said. “If you make mistakes that’s fine, but the key thing is to learn from them.

“He’s hosing away points for his team, they are fighting in the constructors’ championship and I would be surprised if they were too impressed by that. Seven incidents this year is more than enough, Mark was a victim of the action today and that cost him at least a podium.”

Grosjean for his part admitted that the incident was a “stupid crash”.

“I was trying to avoid making any contact, but it didn’t work,” he added.

Webber recovered to finish ninth after a strong drive through the field.

“We were on a one-stop strategy which is not exactly stimulating around here,” he said. “We got something from it, I kept pushing, I didn’t give up.

“To finish eight seconds behind fifth place considering I was reversing away from the fence [on lap one], and the safety car was in before I got back on to the back of the group. We ticked all of the worst boxes again and maybe I need to have a few whiskeys and get some luck that way.

“But I will come back in Korea and just keep doing what I am doing.”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

FIA to sue Streiff for Bianchi investigation claims

9:14am 23 January 2015

Autosport
0

Fia president jean todt and medical chief gerard saillant are planning legal action against former formula 1 driver philippe…  More >

Force India reveals 2015 colours

11:17am 22 January 2015

Autosport
0

Motor Racing - Sahara Force India F1 Team Livery Launch -  Mexico City, Mexico

Force india has unveiled its striking new colour scheme in an event in mexico on wednesday, ahead of a…  More >

World champion lewis hamilton’s father is involved in plans to revive a south african grand prix. since splitting as…  More >

Racism in the racing paddock

11:12am 22 January 2015

Motorsport Magazine
0

Lewis-Hamilton

will there ever be a lewis hamilton of motogp, a black king of motorcycle…  More >

Kiwi legend Howden Ganley celebrated at Hampton Downs

4:41pm 17 January 2015

NZ Herald
0

motorsport_620x310

To have back-to-back motorsport festivals held in your honour must be pretty cool. that’s what awaits former kiwi formula one…  More >

FIA announces virtual safety car procedures for 2015

6:53pm 9 January 2015

Autosport
0

Motor Racing - Formula One World Championship - Brazilian Grand Prix - Practice Day - Sao Paulo, Brazil

The procedure for formula 1’s new virtual safety car (vsc) system has been confirmed by the fia, after the…  More >

RACE COUNTDOWN

NZV8

Round 4

Teretonga Park, Invercargill, 25 January

V8 SuperTourers

Round 4

Waikato 250, Hampton Downs, 31 January

NZV8

Round 5

Manfeild Circuit, Feilding, 15 February

Indycars

Round 1

Brasilia Indy 300, Brasilia, 1 March

V8 Supercars

Round 1

Clipsal 500, Adelaide, 1 March

  • Latest story comments

  • CRC Motornews poll

    Who do you think will be top of the Kiwi in the 2014 V8 Supercars?

      View Results

    Loading ... Loading ...
  • Newsletter icon

    Get the latest motorsport news delivered to your inbox