Horner praises Webber's determination

Monday 13th July 2009

Team boss Christian Horner is full of praise for Mark Webber's tenacity after the Aussie came back from a horrific injury to clinch his first F1 win in Germany.

In November last year, Webber broke his leg in a cycling accident and needed titanium rods inserted to help it heal. But just eight months later, and still not fully fit, the Australian roared to his first F1 race win, taking the chequered flag in Germany.

"I think lying in a hospital bed in Tasmania in November, he could never have dreamed about today," Horner told Autosport. "Certainly we had some concerns because he forgot to tell us that he broke his shoulder as well.

"So, the comeback that he has had has been remarkable - and it is testimony to his determination and commitment that he has got himself back, he has got himself fit and he is driving better than ever.

"I don't think he is still at full fitness. He cannot run. He is carrying an extra bit of ballast in his leg which Adrian [Newey] is not too happy about, but I think that he has dealt with the injury.

"He has very good support and it is not compromising his driving but I don't think he is certainly at the fitness level he was 12 months ago."

As for Red Bull's battle for the World titles, Horner is delighted with the way his team is slowly but surely catching Brawn GP in the standings.

"I think we have taken 20 points in the last three weekends out of them, so I think that our car is working very well," he said.

"It is working well in a multitude of conditions. Obviously their car has not suited the cooler weather of the last couple of events, whereas we have looked very strong.

"We have still got a big hurdle to get over to catch them, but we have made a good inroad into that this weekend as well as previously at Silverstone."

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