Mark Webber has brushed off suggestions he is more of a Formula 1 qualifying specialist than a racing expert - pointing to his 2008 points total that sees him sitting eighth in the drivers'꧟ standings at the midway stage of the campaign.

The Red Bull Racing ace has long had a reputation as a strong qualifier - and indeed has begun in the top ten on the starting grid on all but two occasions in ten outings this year - but there have been occasional question marks over his ability to maintain that form on Sunday afternoons, wh🌳en it really counts.

Those who doubt Webber's ultimate potential were given further ammunition when he spun away RBR's first-ever front row grid slot at Silverstone a fortnight ago - on💫 only the opening lap of the rain-lashed race - ultimately going on to take the chequered flag in a lowly and frustrated tenth place.

"Well, I have 18 points this year, that's all I ca🐎n say," the 31-year-old told Formula 1's official website - drawing attention to the fact that team-mate David Coulthard has garnered just six thus far in 2008, a third of his tally. "As you don't get points in qualifying, I must have done well in the races."

Webber also made a point of welcoming 2009 team-mate Sebastian Vettel to the Red Bull fold, having previously branded the 21-year-old an inexperienced 'kid' after the young German unceremoniously removed him from second 🔜place in the Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji last Septemberꦕ under the safety car.

"He definitely deserves the chance," the man from New South Wales underlined. "He is a very fast𓂃 driver and he is very disciplined.

"He definitely will go to the top in this spor🅷t, and I am looking forward very much to working with him next year."

Focussing on the immediate business in-hand, meanwhile - this weekend's German Grand Prix, which he will be starting from eighth position - Webber ꦰadmitted he could be in for a challenging race.

"We've got a bit of work to do I think," he expla𝔍ined. "This has been one of the harder circuits for us, in terms of 𓃲getting the car balance set up correctly.

"It normally comes together a little easier than it has done this weekend, but we will defend our position in the 𝐆race, although Q2 showed how tight it now is between the cars🐻."

David Coulthard made sure both of the♏ Milton Keynes-based outfit's cars got through to the final phase of qualifying, and the experienced Scot will begin his final German 🦂Grand Prix - a race in which he has four times finished up on the rostrum - from tenth place.

"I didn't manage to hook it up properly with fuel on-board in Q3," the soon-to-retire 37-year-old confessed. "I had oversteer on the prime tyr❀es going through turn one and then unders𝔍teer on the option, so I ran off the circuit.

"It was a pretty messy lap and we should have been a little bit higher. However, as the♛ fuel burns off [in the race]🐼, we should pick up the pace."

RBR team principal Christian Horner professed himself similarly hopeful of bringing both cars home inside the points on race day - something that has eluded the energy drinks-backed squad thus far i🔴n 2008 - as the battle for fourth position in the constructors' world championship hots🌺 up.

"A solid qualifying performance from both drivers to st🌠art eighth and tenth," the Englishman summarised. "We're reasonably ෴placed for the race, and hopefully we'll get two cars to the finish in points-scoring positions."

"It was a difficult🧸 one," added Renault principal track support engineer Fabrice Lom. "It was so tight between all the cars. The Toro Rosso was quick - we're happy to have Vettel next year if he's always as fast as that!

"Engine-related, it's a complicated track for drivability and we're struggling a little, so we're working to ensure we have a consistent race. We're a bit f💙urther back than we would have liked, but we'll work to come back from there."