NUERBURGRING, Germany — Defending champion and 2011 Formula One leader Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull will be looking for his first win at home in the German Grand Prix on Sunday.
Vettel leads a contingent of six German drivers competing at the Nuerburgring, the most from any country and including seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher.
Having won six of the first nine races of the season and finished second in the other three, Vettel says the motivation provided by having a partisan crowd in the stands could help him perform even better.
"It is always great to have the opportunity to race in your home country," Vettel said Thursday. "Many times people talk about extra pressure ... but I think it is more positive than anything else to have people in the grandstands to support you."
Schumacher and Vettel said young German drivers benefit from their country's economic power and can gain the financial support needed to launch their careers in such an expensive sport.
"Motorsport becomes very expensive from an early age, so you need strong people behind you," Vettel said.
Vettel's dominating performance this season has come despite renewed tension with teammate Mark Webber, who sometimes has been openly at odds with team leaders about his role.
At the British Grand Prix in Silverstone two weeks ago, Webber closed in on Vettel despite instructions to stay back as they ran behind Ferrari's Fernando Alonso near the end of the race won by the Spaniard.
Webber acknowledged the difficulties presented by sometimes clashing interests — those of a driver wanting to advance his own cause and a team looking to gain as many points as possible in the constructors' championship.
Webber indicated he would prefer to continue his career with Red Bull in 2012, but was tightlipped about any assurances he may be seeking from the team about his role.
"I'd say the answer to that is yes, mate," the Australian said when asked whether he wanted to stay with Red Bull next year.
Webber said he talked briefly with team principal Christian Horner about the conflict at Silverstone.
"We both put our case forward ... and we thought we were both making the right decision," Webber said. "He guaranteed me it would be have been the same the other way around," had it been Webber leading Vettel at such a late stage of the race.
"I think we're still free to race most of the time," Webber said about competing directly with Vettel.
A distant second in the standings, 80 points behind Vettel, Webber suggested an agreement on his future would be reached shortly.
"I am talking to the team and in a good position, performing very, very well, and with the team doing a good job as well," Webber said. "I'll make my decision soon."