Feb.22 (GMM) Mark Webber and David Coulthard have played down suggestions the Bahrain cancellation could play into the hands of F1's currently weakest teams.

With McLaren's new MP4-26 not the best car in the field currently in terms of pace or reliability, Lewis Hamilton said he was happy that the championship starting in Australia "gives us more time" to prepare.

"We have some catching up to do and not a lot of time until the season starts," he said.

BBC commentator and former McLaren driver Brundle agreed: "It (the extra time) will help some teams that were struggling to make fast and reliable cars.

"It will play into their hands," he told the BBC.

But Mark Webber, with arguably the best car in the field in his hands in the Red Bull RB7, countered: "I don't think the extra two weeks will make a huge difference.

"It's the same for everybody. We are always prepared to race in two weeks," said the Australian.

"The freight will still have to leave for Melbourne pretty early," added Webber. "I suppose you've got another 10 days' headroom, but it is swings and roundabouts."

His former Red Bull teammate David Coulthard has a similar opinion.

"This is one area where I don't necessarily agree with Martin," the Scot, who will share the BBC commentary box with Brundle in 2011, wrote in his latest Telegraph column.

"From the feedback I am getting, it seems Ferrari and Red Bull are currently at the head of the queue so, by implication, he is suggesting it could help Mercedes and McLaren.

"Yes, McLaren will have an extra two weeks of factory time but so will Ferrari. And with just one test to go they won't have any more track time to test parts or work on reliability," Coulthard insisted.

Latest F1 News - Mobile version

26 Feb: New Ferrari not quickest in field - Domenicali 26 Feb: Red Bull still best in 2013 - Tost 26 Feb: 2014 French grand prix 'possible' - Prost 26 Feb: Danica Patrick 'not interested' in F1 switch 26 Feb: Report - Gilles Simon working on F1 engine for Honda 26 Feb: Gutierrez plays down link to Carlos Slim 26 Feb: Caterham exhaust 'legal' insists van der Garde 26 Feb: McLaren replaces Mercedes-bound Lowe 25 Feb: 'Engine maps' trouble for Red Bull, Lotus - report 25 Feb: Mercedes-bound Lowe to miss 2013 opener - report 25 Feb: Mercedes 'in group of teams' behind Red Bull - Lauda 25 Feb: Gutierrez expects Hulkenberg to beat him early in 2013 25 Feb: New Ferrari 'much better' than 2012 - Massa 25 Feb: Teams 'will adapt' to new tyre situation - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Tight rules make today's F1 cars 'the same' - Forghieri 25 Feb: Williams removes controversial exhaust trick 25 Feb: Contract 'conflicts' cause of Marussia test snub - Razia 25 Feb: Lotus to fight Red Bull for title - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Marussia 'ahead of Caterham' - Chilton 25 Feb: Sutil will not stay in F1 as test driver The latest F1 News - Mobile Version