Webber unconvinced by rear wing plans

Webber fears that plans by the FIA, to introduce an adjustable rear wing in 2011 will mean there is less skill involved in winning races.

The FIA, motor sport’s governing body, announced earlier in the week that teams will be allowed to use adjustable rear wings next season, which will increase their straight line speed and make it easier to overtake rival drivers.

The 33-year-old Red Bull driver is concerned that overtaking will no longer be about skill and judgement.

“It is good for the PlayStation I think but I don’t know how well it is going to work in F1,” said Webber.

“We need to put some good research into it, understand it and make sure it is beneficial for everyone - the drivers, the show, the spectators and safety, which is a big thing.

“Overtaking moves should be about pressurising, being skillful, and tactical.

“Yes we want to see more overtaking, of course we do, but we also need to keep the element of skill involved in overtaking and not just hitting buttons, like KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System), like adjustable rear wings.

“We need to get the balance right in having skillful races between each other, and not an IRL [IndyCar] race where you pass each other four times per lap and everyone gets bored of that.”

Lotus driver Jarno Trulli is concerned about safety issues, as the loss of a rear wing could lead to some very nasty incidents.

“I’ve only read a little bit about the new regulations and the one I do not appreciate is the movable rear wing, just on the question of safety,” said the Italian.

“I have the lost the rear wing a couple of times and it is one of the most dangerous things you can have happen because you are no longer in control of your car.

“Normally it fails at very high speed and you’re going to end up hitting the wall. I do not want to have the worry of my rear wing failing.

“The front wing is slightly different even though it is still a problem, the rear wing is worse.”