'F1 needed a bit of a facelift': Webber

Formula 1 champion Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber believes that F1 needed a "facelift" in terms of its technical regulations and will be getting it when the radical rules package with 1.6 litre, V-6, turbocharged, fuel-efficient engines for 2014.

"That's the way that manufacturing (for road cars) is going these days," said Webber while replying to autoX at the FIA's press conference today for F1 drivers ahead of the Indian Grand Prix at the Buddh International Circuit at Greater Noida here today. "F1 should be the benchmark in terms of rolling such stuff out."

The Australian announced a switch to sportscar racing with Porsche at the end of the current season and believed that F1 would probably remain on the technological edge at par with prototype sportscars.

However, Webber, remained guarded about whether the new rules package would serve F1 well as far as entertainment to the general public who want close racing.

"How it's going to go in terms of spectacle, only time will tell," said Webber. "The drivers are the most important thing. You can have whatever car out there you want but having the best drivers is still the most important thing."

As far as shaking up the F1 pecking order was concerned, however, Webber believed that the have-nots would still struggle.

"Whenever you make a big regulation change the midfield and smaller teams are really going to be stretched," said Webber. "The gap to teams like Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes and possibly McLaren will only get bigger."