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Crash 'totally my fault? admits Mark Webber

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-10-25 07:59

Ferrari Formula One driver Fernando Alonso of Spain jumps as he celebrates on the podium after winning the South Korean F1 Grand Prix at the Korea International Circuit in Yeongam on Sunday. Alonso won a rain-hit and chaotic Korean Grand Prix to seize the F1 championship lead after both of his Red Bull rivals failed to finish. Toru Hanai / Reuters

YEONGAM, South Korea - Australian Mark Webber insists he is still in the hunt for his maiden Formula One world championship despite crashing out of the rain-soaked Korean Grand Prix on Sunday.

The 34-year-old Red Bull driver was in second place behind teammate Sebastian Vettel on Lap 19 of the 55-lap race at the new Yeongam circuit when he ran wide at Turn 12, spinning across the track and into a wall.

Webber's car rebounded across the circuit and collected the Mercedes of German Nico Rosberg, sending both cars into retirement.

After Vettel retired with a blown engine on Lap 46, Webber leaves South Korea in second place in the championship, 11 points behind Spaniard Fernando Alonso of Ferrari with races in Brazil and Abu Dhabi to finish the season.

The Australian won at Interlagos in Brazil last season and finished second to Vettel in the maiden race in Abu Dhabi.

"There are still two races to go and I will do my absolute best," Webber said.

"Things can change very quickly, (and) positions are not really important at the moment. The points are the important thing."

The Australian shouldered the blame for his crash.

"It was totally my fault, totally my mistake," he said.

"I got a wheel on the kerb on the exit of Turn 12 and it was a very slow-motion moment."

Vettel's retirement keeps the Australian 14 points ahead of his Red Bull teammate with a maximum of 50 points on offer for the last two races. The German is now 25 points adrift of Alonso in the title chase.

Agence France-Presse