Webber set for 2010 tilt at the title

ABU DHABI // Having suffered a potentially career-ending broken leg ahead of this year's Formula One season, Red Bull's Mark Webber believes the two wins and seven podiums he has claimed in 2009 leave him perfectly positioned to launch a year-long title offensive next season. "When I was lying in hospital people said: you watch this will be your best season yet," Webber said yesterday. "But you're thinking 'I'm not sure'. Personally I had the worst preparation ever, but it turns out I've had my best season ever.

"It has almost started my career again in a funny sort of way. There's no question the goals moved as the season went on this year - we realised we could go for the championships," added Webber, who followed up his debut win in Germany with victory in Brazil a fortnight ago. "There's so many weaknesses we've filled in from previous years - the reliability, the pace, there are so many things we've performed to such a good level at this year. The team's made a massive step forward. I think next season will start off not a million miles from how we've finished this year.

"Consistency is the biggest thing we want to improve next year. I hope we don't have a more even spread of wins, I hope it is in Red Bull's favour, but that would be wishful thinking," added the Australian. "We, as a team, would love to make it as boring as possible next year but there's too many [teams] coming back. Off the back of this year though, we've got great foundations for next year." One of those foundations, was Webber's win at Interlagos. For a man who counts the late Ayrton Senna as an idol, standing atop the Brazilian podium was the realisation of Webber's dreams.

"[Germany] was great, but Brazil - I watched Senna there as a youngster growing up and for me to join him [by winning] at a track where he won was special." @Email:[e-mail]