Formula One news

'Button tough to catch' - Webber

Mark Webber admits that catching championship leader Jenson Button will be a difficult task for the rest of the field in 2009. After winning in Turkey with team-mate Rubens Barrichello not finishing on Sunday, the Englishman's lead in the standings is now up to a large twenty-six points.

Webber equalled a career-best result of second in Turkey

In a dominant display at Istanbul Park, Button took his sixth victory of the season from Webber and Vettel, who finished seven seconds behind. "The way the points-scoring system is at the moment, for him to chip away is not that easy if his main competitors are consistent," explained Webber. "Two DNFs obviously changes things but there's no question about it, he's in fantastic shape going forward with seven races down and ten to go.

"Even if he's cruising and picks up a lot of results, rather than being on the top step, it's going to be a long time for people to get that back." To emphasise Webber's comments, in the event of second-placed Rubens Barrichello winning all remaining races and Button finishing second, the Frome-born star would still claim the championship by six points, meaning bad luck for the leader will be required in order for Button's rivals to close the gap.

"Finishes are crucial for him (Button) and he's been around long enough to know that," Webber, who is now just 1.5 points behind team-mate Vettel for third, continued. "We are in a position to challenge at most Grands Prix now and that is very rewarding for the whole team. We expected to be a bit closer in Turkey, to be honest, but there was no way anyone was going to beat Jenson. It's not that we're going to change our mentality going forward - we're doing everything we can to make the car as fast as possible for every venue we go to, and that's starting with the next Grand Prix at Silverstone."

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