Championship leader Australian Mark Webber has no intention of easing off his intense focus on winning this week as he stays calm ahead of next Sunday’s inaugural Korean Grand Prix.
The 34-year-old Red Bull driver, who finished second behind title rival and team-mate German Sebastian Vettel at last Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix, has kept a low profile since that success.
But he knows that despite increasing his lead to 14 points ahead of Vettel, 23, and two-times champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso of Ferrari, it is too early – with three races remaining – to play a percentage game.
“No, I can’t think like that. It won’t be enough. I need to keep racing hard and going for victories,” he said.
“Clearly, of course, if my rivals have a rough weekend it makes it a bit harder for them and it gives me a bit more scope, but I’m not looking to abuse that because it can all go pear-shaped very fast.
“Having a lead is great, but it only counts when you get to the last race and we haven’t got there yet, have we?”
The Korean contest at the new, hastily-completed Korean International Circuit throws up the same challenge for all the teams this week with each driver having to rely on research work and simulations to gain any knowledge of what lies ahead.
“It makes no difference to me to be in the lead,” said Webber. “We all have to go there and see the track and get on with the job and it is the same for everyone. I may be in the lead, by a few points, but I don’t think I am the favourite.
“I think we’re all pretty even. It can change pretty quickly – in a good way or a bad way for me. It’s on a knife-edge, but I’m very relaxed. It’s another race for me.
“I’ll give nothing, leave no change on the table and do the best I can. The points will look after themselves. Like I said, you need to be leading the championship at the last race, not now.”
Without a win in four races, Webber knows it is time to end that run and re-establish his dominance at the head of the standings before the F1 circus flies off to Brazil and then Abu Dhabi for the final events.
“I need to win again and, of course, I am very confident I can do that,” he said.
“There are a group of us at the front and it is chopping and changing all the time, but from my point of view, the lead has grown and that is good news. I just have to stay consistent and keep my head down now.
“Reliability could still play a major role in the outcome. A lot of things can happen with a lot of different circumstances, but if it pans out that way, I am ready. And I have got a few points up my sleeve.”
Webber did not admit it, but his greatest threat may yet come from the inconsistent Vettel who has fought back into contention in recent weeks.
Team boss Christian Horner has insisted the pair will be given fair and equal equipment and support, but has conceded also that his Red Bull outfit may be tripped up by the unexpected in Korea.
“It has one of the season’s longest straights on it, followed by a very, very twisty section,” said Horner.
“Sector one is not going to be great for us, but hopefully sectors two and three will be more our territory.
“So I think you will find that over a lap it will balance out the lap time between the strengths that some of the other teams have and the weaknesses we have.”