Mixed feelings for Webber as he has to settle for fifth

Mark Webber was content with his day's work despite having to settle for fifth place in yesterday's Canadian Grand Prix - a result that also saw him lose the championship lead. The Red Bull-Renault driver had qualified second, but dropped five places on the grid following a gearbox change before the race. But a gamble on staying on the harder Bridgestone harder (Prime) compound, which saw him lead for a period, failed to pay off as he was caught and overtaken by Lewis Hamilton, the eventual race winner, and then had to pitted to take on the soft tyres, losing him three more places.

The result saw the Australian drop to third in the standings behind Hamilton and Jenson Button, the two McLaren-Mercedes drivers, but he was not too down on his endeavours in Montreal. "Tyres playing a huge role in the race, also, when you've obviously made the pit strategies that we did and I think in the end we did the best that we could do," he told the BBC. "Obviously, they split the cars with Sebastian [Vettel, his teammate] on the option in the middle. I stayed on the Prime and was going to finish the race on the Option. Obviously it's dangerous waiting for a safety car as well in terms of because, if that happens, your race is pretty much over as well in the front as the race is neutralised.

"So mixed emotions. I mean, after the penalty this morning it was not good, but then I had a good first few laps. I managed to get into a few people. That took its toll a little bit on the first set of tyres so I was in trouble a little bit earlier than I would have liked." He finished behind Vettel, who lost pace after a strong start as he had to settle for fourth, and complained to the team over the pit radio about his car's worsening performance.

* Compiled by Graham Caygill, with agencies