Ecclestone: “I have high hopes for Mark Webber”
Bernie Ecclestone admitted that he would like to see a close fight for the title in 2012, after Vettel's undisputed domination in the previous season.
Sebastian Vettel outrageously dominated the 2011 season by securing the world title several races before the end of the season.
A situation that had not occurred for several years, where the title was decided in the final round.
When asked about the issue by the Austrian daily Salzburger Nachrichten, Bernie Ecclestone said he hoped Vettel would not repeat his performance: “I hope not! Of course, Red Bull will always be present. But I would prefer to see a fight for the title until the end of the season. Even if the spectators care more about the tension during the races than about the championship.”
Bernie places all his hopes on Australian Mark Webber, the only man who can counter Vettel if Red Bull remains dominant: «I wouldn’t want Red Bull to dominate in the same way as last year, but that’s really what is likely to happen. That’s why I have high hopes for Mark Webber. This year, we’ll see situations where he can prove his talent.»
As last season, Ecclestone sees four teams competing for the race victory: « I would be surprised if Mercedes doesn’t win a race this year. As for Ferrari, I can only hope that they improve significantly. Fernando Alonso is very talented, and he deserves a perfect car.»
