Mark Webber’s team boss admits Red Bull will be under increased race-day pressure, but praised Australian Formula One Grand Prix officials for sensationally postponing Saturday qualifying.
Heavy rain and fading light forced organisers to delay the final two qualifying sessions until race day – the sessions now scheduled for Sunday morning ahead of the twilight race.
Webber was fifth fastest during the 20-minute session that did go ahead on Saturday, held in wet and wild conditions which left several cars damaged.
But after several delays, worsening weather and looming darkness, stewards eventually gave up on the day.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner believed the decision was the correct one for driver safety.
“It’s dark now. If we were running now it’s not safe for the drivers in these conditions,” Horner said on Saturday night.
“Plenty of time tomorrow to come back and qualify at 11 o’clock ahead of the race at five (pm) so it’s 100 per cent the right decision.”
Webber and teammate Sebastian Vettel both had moments during Saturday’s free practice and the truncated qualifying.
Vettel had a hydraulics issue which left him parked kerbside late in practice.
And Webber was one of several drivers to take an excursion off-course in the difficult qualifying conditions.
But the Australian recovered from his early setback with a good lap time behind pacesetter Nico Rosberg’s Mercedes to again raise hopes he can finally crack the podium at his home Grand Prix.
Rain is again forecast for Albert Park on Sunday, but conditions aren’t expected to be anything like the heavy downpour which started 40 minutes prior to the scheduled start of qualifying and barely let up for the next two hours.
Horner was reading little into the qualifying session – just relieved his cars and drivers got through trying conditions unscathed.
“We survived the first session with two cars in one piece and two drivers in one piece. That’s the main thing,” he said.
And Horner is confident despite the unusual race day ahead, Red Bull can start the season in competitive style.
“It’s definitely a bit more pressure because you’ve got to fit what you’d normally do over two days into a single day.
“But it doesn’t change our focus and approach and hopefully the weather will be a bit nicer.”
Australia’s other driver, Daniel Ricciardo, also survived qualifying with the 14th fastest time to make Sunday’s second session.