Webber: I can race as well as qualify in F1.

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, when 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 can 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 September under the safety car.

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

"He definitely will go to the top in this sport, 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 admitted he could be in for a challenging race.

"We've got a bit of work to do I think," he explained. "This has been one of the harder circuits for us, in terms of getting 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 race, 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 tyres going through turn one and then understeer 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 in 2008 - as the battle for fourth position in the constructors' world championship hots up.

"A solid qualifying performance from both drivers to start 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 further back than we would have liked, but we'll work to come back from there."