Mark Webber has poured cold water on Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone’s idea of using ‘fake rain’ during Grands Prix races. Ecclestone caused a storm this week after saying a sprinkler system would help liven up the show. Asked whether the sport needed it and whether he is in favour, Aussie Webber snapped: “No and no!” The Sun

“Yes, it can be more exciting when we have some different weather conditions.”“But you think of guys like Ayrton Senna and Jackie Stewart and Jimmy Clark – masters in the wet – and they would be, well Jackie is still here, but the other two would be turning in their graves at the thought that we would have sprinklers and hoses lined up around the track.” Telegraph. “It wouldn’t be the most sophisticated way to make the show more entertaining,” added Webber. Mercedes GP chief executive Nick Fry was also unconvinced.

“I think Bernie’s putting forward some entertaining ideas but… Formula One is about contending with the conditions that prevail at the time,” he told Reuters. “I think that fiddling with those conditions artificially is not the nature of Formula One.

“The beauty of Formula One is that there is now huge variety… we have races in the evening and during the day and halfway between the two and I don’t think anyone could say that last year was boring. It was tremendous and I’m sure that this year will be better still,” he added. Montreal Gazette