Webber ready to challenge Vettel and Button after maiden win

Mark WebberHamburg  - Mark Webber on Tuesday expressed his delight to have crossed a great divide with his first Grand Prix win and now hopes to fight for the Formula One world title with team-mate Sebastian Vettel and current leader Jenson Button.

The Australian Webber got his first career win on Sunday in Germany in a one-two for the Red Bull team ahead of Vettel, who had won twice earlier in the season.

The two drew closer to Brawn GP man Button, who finished fifth in that race. Button leads the standings with 68 points into the final eight of 17 season races, Vettel has 47 points and Webber 45.5.

"I've now crossed the uncharted waters of pole position and a victory, so that can only help. It can't be a hindrance, that's for sure," Webber told the Red Bull website.

"I hope that the momentum can continue, even if there is no doubt there will be some tough races in the future. But getting this first win means that when it's close, the races might seem more straightforward for me."

Webber went on to speak about the title race, giving a clear indication that there is no team order at Red Bull when he and Vettel continue to challenge Button.

"Sebastian and I might come across each other quite a bit in the races and that will be reflected in the points tally. It will continue to see-saw either way until one of us has a blip in performance," he said.

"For the team, it's an incredible position to have both its drivers on virtually equal points, which bodes very well for the constructors' championship. Jenson is our big hurdle in the drivers', as he is two Grands Prix in the lead in terms of points."

Webber said he had dinner with the Australian Test Cricket team in England on Monday and that the nation's F1 legend Jack Brabham was among the many people from home saluting him.

"Yes, I got an email from him and his son, David, which was great. The Brabham family has always been fantastic towards me.

"Certainly, a small part of my victory is down to Jack, because my father was a great admirer of his and probably I wouldn't have been racing cars without Jack lighting that little fire in the Webber family," Webber said.(dpa)