F1: Webber Calls For Greater Driver Quality, Blames Tyres For 2013 Struggles

Mark Webber, who is preparing to leave F1 after more than a decade-long career, has warned the sport to insist upon "quality".

Hitting out at pay-drivers locking more talented drivers off the grid, Australian Webber also criticised unpopular yet lucrative races like this weekend's Korean grand prix.

Telling British broadcaster Sky the pay-driver situation is "not right", Webber said: "We've got to be careful we don't have a bit of a vacuum not having those top boys come through."

Another problem, he said, is races like Korea.

Red Bull has slammed reports it is flouting the rules as Sebastian Vettel stamps his dominance on the 2013 season.

After Singapore, former F1 team owner Giancarlo Minardi raised doubts about the German's RB9, saying its handling and engine tone reminded him of traction control.

"Utter nonsense!" Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko told the German newspaper Bild.

Reports have suggested Red Bull might actually be mimicking the banned 'blown exhaust' era with a clever engine mapping solution.

Bild said F1's governing FIA would not comment.

(GMM)

Alonso denies struggling with qualifying discipline

Fernando Alonso has hit back at suggestions he could up his game in the discipline of qualifying.

When it was announced that Kimi Raikkonen is heading back to Ferrari in 2014, Alonso's friend Mark Webber said that is good news for the Spaniard.

"Fernando needs to be pushed more on Saturday afternoons," said the Australian.

Indeed, in Alonso's four seasons wearing red, he has been on pole only four times, compared to 36 in the same period for Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel.

Alonso told Brazil's Totalrace: "It's on Sunday that the points are given.

"But even if Saturday is not the priority, I have been the best in terms of qualifying that Felipe has had as a teammate.

"My advantage compared to him is 82 per cent," he insisted.

"So even if Saturday is not my strongest point, in eight out of ten weekends, I'm in front of him. So I don't think this is a problem for me," Alonso added.

(GMM)