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[jezf1]

I am a long time Webber fan, and to be honest after the first few rounds of the championship this year I thought Webber had finally met his match with Vettel as a team mate. Now over halfway through the season he has managed to nose ahead due to some awesome driving and bad luck Seb's part.

Now that Webber's leg is on the mend he seems to be matching if not exceeding Vettel on raw pace, with exception of Q3 where Seb still seems to have the edge.

I am really excited about the run home in the championship and hope Webber can continue his run of form, but do you think he can hold back Seb?

[racechick]

I think so. As you say he has the speed in nearly all areas-just that last quali where he sometimes makes small errors, but I think that is improving and I suspect its due to the leg..which is on the mend big time.

I also think he has an advantage over Seb in his ability to race. He's not afraid to have a go, he's firm but fair. Not seen Seb attack in anger and he's prone to errors under pressure(not suprising I guess as he's less experienced)
So all in all yes, I think he can hold off Seb (Awful Webber luck allowing!!)I think he is gaining the upper hand in the partnership.

[Gilles 27]

Vettel has Webber on raw pace imo. In the long run he will prove to be the greater talent but for now, Webber's pace is undiminished and he has plenty of experience to back it up. For this reason and possibly others, he is making fewer mistakes and I think has the upper hand atm and deserves Red Bull's full backing for the rest of the season.
I think it's like Scheckter and Villeneuve in 1979, Villenueve was the greater talent but had less experience and fell behind in the points by the halfway point of the season. Ferrari then backed Scheckter for the title as Red Bull should do with Webber in the hope that Villeneuve would get his chance again someday. With Vettel, I'd say it is far more likely that he will get another shot at the title further down the line, whereas for Webber, this may be his chance.

[jezf1]

Very valid points, and I would like to see Webber get the full backing of the team, but also wouldn't be disappointed if they are left to race for the next few rounds. As for raw pace, I think the jury is still out and we should get a more accurate idea over the next few rounds also, but my gut tells me Webber might turn a few surprises.

Either way I agree, Vettel is the man for the future and Webber isnt getting any younger, but I feel Webber's got the goods for the now and hopefully could pull off one of the biggest championship surprises of all time!

Anyways, I'm getting a little ahead of myself, but I would be interested to hear opinions from non-webber fanboys such as myself, as my opinion is slightly biased/clouded being Australian

[yamashek]

As much as I want to see Seb do well in 2009 (maybe even to win the championship), it is a reality that his performance isn't as consistent as Mark's. Seb might have an advantage over raw Q3 pace over Mark, but race/ passing wise, Seb might need more work to be level with Mark.

If Seb wins this year's WDC, I'd be quite surprised given that he already has 4 DNF's so far.

But like others have said, I agree that Mark might have the goods to give Jenson headaches. And I think Mark winning this year's WDC is as great as Seb winning it.

So either way, I don't mind if Mark win this year or Seb.
But it'd be quite crazy if Seb wins the WDC this year.

Certainly, Seb is a star for the future, he just needs to gain more experience.

[Frosty]

Webber is really on it at the moment!

[Griff]

Its a difficult one for this season and i think its obvious from everyone else's comments that the major opinion is that webber has the experience and thats what it comes down to.
I think that the winner of the pair will depend on Red Bull's development. If they remain the fastest car Vettel has a good chance as he's a better qualifier and likes to charge from the front. If Red Bulls development drops of he will struggle as his overtaking and attack is nowhere near Webber's.
Overall I think that Webber will want it more he's pretty much tied to Red Bull and lets face it next year is going to be different with all the big teams throwing their money at next years car so early. Vettel on the other hand will certainly find himself in another competitive in the not too distant future.

[darwin dali]

Y'all talk as if it's between SV and MW to win the title. Maybe Brawn has a little surprise in store and JB pulls it off?

[jezf1]

Yeah, I dont think anyone doubts that Vettel has the brighter future. Webbers in the twilight of his career, where Vettel is just beginning a very promising one.

Right now is when it counts though, and I am sure down the track Vettel will find his way into other competitive cars, but as Mark Webber is a testament to, sometimes you have to wait your whole career, thus I doubt very much either of them will be sitting on their lorrels thinking there there will be other chances.

Vettel - Bright future definitely/maybe, no guarantee he will end up in a competitive car, F1 is to fickle for those kinds of predictions.

Webber - This year is his shot, if hes lucky he will be competitive next year, but he'd be crazy to bank on that.

This leaves us with one question, who wants it more, and to be honest I cant pick between the two.

[jezf1]

Y'all talk as if it's between SV and MW to win the title. Maybe Brawn has a little surprise in store and JB pulls it off?

I have no doubt Brawn/Jenson are still in it, but my moneys with the redbulls as I think Brawn are slipping back to quickly. IMO the main factor will be how fast the Mclaren & Ferrari's are, and whether or not they finish inbetween the redbull and brawns or ahead of them both. If between my moneys on redbull championship, if in front of both, the Brawn/Jenson may scrape it home.

but its gonna be super tough and super close, I'm pretty excited by it all!

[headless]

Y'all talk as if it's between SV and MW to win the title. Maybe Brawn has a little surprise in store and JB pulls it off?

I have no doubt Brawn/Jenson are still in it, but my moneys with the redbulls as I think Brawn are slipping back to quickly. IMO the main factor will be how fast the Mclaren & Ferrari's are, and whether or not they finish inbetween the redbull and brawns or ahead of them both. If between my moneys on redbull championship, if in front of both, the Brawn/Jenson may scrape it home.

but its gonna be super tough and super close, I'm pretty excited by it all!

Who says Barricehllo can't do anything??
Not sure on Ferrari and how they'll do now, without Massa or MS

[Jensonb]

Webber has the upper hand now. He has always been more consistent than Vettel, but now his leg is improving, he's very much matching him on pace too.

[headless]

My leg is improving aswell.

[jezf1]

Y'all talk as if it's between SV and MW to win the title. Maybe Brawn has a little surprise in store and JB pulls it off?

I have no doubt Brawn/Jenson are still in it, but my moneys with the redbulls as I think Brawn are slipping back to quickly. IMO the main factor will be how fast the Mclaren & Ferrari's are, and whether or not they finish inbetween the redbull and brawns or ahead of them both. If between my moneys on redbull championship, if in front of both, the Brawn/Jenson may scrape it home.

but its gonna be super tough and super close, I'm pretty excited by it all!

Who says Barricehllo can't do anything??
Not sure on Ferrari and how they'll do now, without Massa or MS

Barrichello? I guess I can see him taking points off the redbull pair, but nothing more. The ferrari's are definitely a factor, if they have some speed, and enough to wedge themselves between the redbull's and the brawn's then thats going to influence the WC outcome, for sure. Still, I guess Brawn are capable of turing up to a race meet with the car bolted down to the road like we saw earlier in the year, I see this as a lot less probable than before, but still possible.

[darwin dali]

My leg is improving aswell.

Which one?