Three-time world Formula One champion Jack Brabham says fellow Australian Mark Webber has “blown” his chance of winning this year’s title.
Webber remains in contention with two rounds left, but his points lead evaporated when he crashed out of last weekend’s Korean Grand Prix. Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso won for the third time in four races to move past Red Bull pair Webber and Sebastien Vettel.
Brabham told Australian Associated Press a Webber series win “would mean a lot to me and it would mean a lot to Australia, but unfortunately I think his real opportunity has been blown last weekend.”
The only other Australian to win the F1 title was Alan Jones in 1980.
Brabham, who lives on the Gold Coast south of Brisbane in Queensland state, rarely comments on the state of Formula 1. But he says he fears Webber may have missed a career chance at a title.
“I’m really there behind him in the hope that he gets there but if he doesn’t do it this year I don’t think he ever will, personally,” Brabham said. “He was there with a (14)-point lead so now he’s back in the grid and that’s going to make it very, very difficult.”
“Mark’s actually a very good driver but unfortunately he does make mistakes and the mistake at the weekend has probably cost him the championship. It’s a pity, really, because Vettel didn’t finish and all Mark had to do was finish in front of Vettel one more time and he was home and dry.”
Brabham says Webber will soon be uncompetitive against the likes of younger stars such as Vettel and Alonso.
“People like Alonso are young and Mark’s getting a bit too old really now,” Brabham said. “He can probably go one more year but every year that goes by now he’s getting older and this is a young man’s sport.
“He’s racing against 21-year-olds or 22-year-olds and he’s got the job in front of him. He’s got to finish in front of Alonso and also Vettel and it’s not going to be easy.”
