FORMULA ONE

• Webber takes winning momentum into Turkey

  Istanbul, Turkey (Sports Network) - Series: Formula One. Date: Sunday, May 30. Race: Turkish Grand Prix. Site: Istanbul Park. Track: 5.338 km (3.317 miles) 14-turn road course. Start Time: 8:00 a.m. (et). Laps: 58. Miles: 192.250 (309.396 km). 2009 Winner: Jenson Button. Television: FOX.

  Mark Webber has been red hot in Formula One racing, and his momentum likely will continue this weekend in the Turkish Grand Prix.

  During the month of May, Webber has won the Spanish Grand Prix and the Monaco Grand Prix, after starting on the pole and leading every lap in each one of those events. He has accumulated 50 points in the last two races, which has placed him into a tie with Red Bull teammate Sebastian Vettel in the F1 world championship standings.

  "We have a very good foundation, and we're in a good position," Webber said. "We've got some different venues coming up, keep in mind that engines are going to come into play in the back part of the championship. There are lots of things to roll into this situation yet. It's a good position to be in, and I obviously would rather be here than forty points behind.

  We have a good tally at the moment, but I don't think it's between two guys, too early." Last month, Webber was 32 points behind then leader Jenson Button.

  Red Bull has won the pole in each of the first six rounds this year, with Vettel and Webber claiming three apiece. The British team is looking to keep the pole-winning streak alive in Turkey.

  Four of the first five Turkish GPs were won from the pole. Last year, Vettel started on the pole for this race, but second-place starter Button capitalized on an opening-lap mistake by Vettel and went on to capture the victory.

  He won six of the first seven grand prix last year, en route to the F1 title.

  Button, in his first year with McLaren, is looking to rebound from his disappointing performance at Monaco. His car overheated in the opening laps, which led to a 23rd-place finish. He now trails Vettel and Webber by eight points.

  "We've got some new upgrades for this race, which I think underlines the strength of our development push," Button said.

  "We should be particularly well suited to Turkey, and I think we've got a good chance of doing well there." The 5.338-mile Istanbul Park has an unusual anti-clockwise layout and features the legendary "Turn Eight," which effectively is four left hand turns all strung together. It is one of the most challenging corners on the F1 circuit.

  "I think the track is one of the better modern circuits we visit," Button said.

  "It's got a good balance of corners, some good gradient, and most importantly, in terms of overtaking, it's probably the best-designed circuit that we visit all year."

  05/26 23:20:35 ET