Monday 8 October 2012

Grosjean a Nutcase - Webber

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An angry Mark Webber has branded Romain Grosjean a "first-lap nutcase" and intimated that the Frenchman should receive another race ban after his Japanese GP was wrecked by the Lotus driver.

Just three races on from receiving the first race suspension in Formula 1 for 18 years for causing a start-line pile-up at Spa, Grosjean was involved in his seventh first-lap incident of the season at Suzuka on Sunday when he punted the back of Webber's front-row starting Red Bull as the field navigated the first two corners.

The contact spun Webber onto the grass, and prompted an unscheduled visit to the pits at the end of the lap for repairs. After battling back to finish ninth at the chequered flag Webber expressed his considerable ire with Grosjean to Sky Sports F1's Natalie Pinkham.

"I haven't seen what happened at the start but the guys confirmed it was the first-lap nutcase again Grosjean," Webber said.

"The rest of us are trying to fight for some decent results each weekend but he's trying to get to the third corner as fast as he can at every race.

"It makes it frustrating because a few big guys obviously suffered from that today. Maybe he needs another holiday."

Asked by Natalie if he thought the FIA needed to intervene again, the Australian continued: "He needs to have a look at himself obviously. It was completely his fault. How many mistakes can you make, how many times can you make the same error with first lap incidents?

"It's quite embarrassing at this level for him."

Webber's team boss Christian Horner also delivered an immediate rebuke of Grosjean's driving, describing the Frenchman's actions as "crazy".

"We feel that we really missed out with Mark," Horner told Sky Sports F1. "A crazy move at turn two by Grosjean and that effectively ended Mark's race.

"I think the most concerning thing is when it is repeat incidents. If you make mistakes that's fine but the most important thing is to learn from them."

Horner also suggested that Grosjean's Lotus bosses would be far from impressed with his lack of care given it continues to cost the team crucial points.

"He's hosing away points for his team. They're fighting in the Constructors' Championship. I would be surprised if they were impressed by that," he said.

"Seven incidents this year is more than enough and Mark was the victim of the action today and it cost him for sure at least a podium."


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