MADRID (AP) Mark Webber will be looking to build on his win in Hungary and pad his narrow overall lead when Formula One returns from its summer break at the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday.
The Red Bull driver has won two of the last three races to take the lead in a tight championship race with only 20 points separating the top five drivers: Webber (161), McLaren's Lewis Hamilton (157), Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel (151), McLaren's Jenson Button (147) and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso (141).
Webber has overcome problems within the team to overtake Hamilton and Vettel in the standings, capitalizing on the circuit's fastest car to show he's a capable No. 1 for Red Bull.
Red Bull has been the pace setter all season, but Webber has been able to turn that into points better than Vettel. Webber expects the car to maintain its season-long edge at one of F1's most iconic races in the rural Ardennes countryside.
``I expect we can do well there. Whether it's as well as I did in Budapest is a question for everyone,'' the Australian said. ``But I know our team is ready.''
All drivers are looking forward to tackling high speed corners like Eau Rouge and Pouhon come Sunday's 44-lap race. Vettel is worried about whether Red Bull can command in the straights, however.
``Our weakness will be the long straights and, with uphill sections too, we know it won't be easy for us,'' the German driver said. ``But I am optimistic for the race.''
McLaren will be keen to rebound from the disappointment of Hungary, where Hamilton failed to finish due to a gearbox problem and Button was eighth. McLaren hasn't won a race since Hamilton triumphed in Canada.
``We know that we have some catching up do to _ it's still important that we regain the momentum we'd reached earlier this season,'' Button said. ``While I don't think these two European races will be pivotal to the title fight, it will be harder to introduce bigger upgrades to the car at the end-of-season fly-aways so it's important for the whole team that we score well in both events.''
With the Italian GP closing the European leg of the calendar on Sept. 12, points will be important now as drivers and team crews return refreshed from a four-week break.
Button took part in a triathlon, while Alonso spent his time biking in the Asturian hills. Ferrari principal Stefano Domenicali is hoping the team will return inspired and ready to reap the momentum that has seen Alonso gain in the standings.
``The Belgian track is possibly the most appealing of the entire season,'' Alonso said. ``I have a good feeling following on from the positive results obtained in Germany and Hungary.''
Points will be even more important for Ferrari, which risks being docked some or all of its points from the 1-2 finish by Alonso and Felipe Massa in Germany after Massa allowed Alonso to pass team orders. Governing body FIA will hear the case Sept. 8 and decide whether to impose a sanction.
Rubens Barrichello will suit up for race No. 300 a record with Williams.
``I took my first pole there and have won at Spa while racing in the lower categories so I'm looking forward to it,'' the 38-year-old Brazilian, who has won 11 times since his debut in 1993, said. ``It feels great to reach this milestone.''
Force India is not expecting a repeat of last year when Giancarlo Fisichella took the pole and then finished behind race winner Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari for the Indian team's best-ever result.
``We have to look at what we are doing now rather than to the past,'' driver Adrian Sutil said. ``I'm pretty confident that we've got a car that will still suit the track very well.''
Practice starts Friday, with a third session Saturday morning before qualifying.
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