Formula One: Red Bull insists both drivers, Webber and Vettel would be treated equally
Formula One is one sport where team mates are fighting for the same prize, and there are bound to be rifts within teams. Red Bull is no different and there have been spats between Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel throughout the season. However, the team
boss Christian Horner has said that there are not problems between the drivers, and the team will make sure that both of them are treated equally.
Mark Webber is leading the leader board by 14 points ahead of Fernando Alonso, who is on 2nd spot, Weber’s team mate Sebastian Vettel is also on 206 points, 14 points adrift of Webber. However, Alonso has more race wins so he is ahead of Vettel.
During the course of the season there had been number of incidents that suggested that the team may be inclining towards one driver. Horner said that the rumours are not correct, and there is no way that the team would be favouring one driver over the other.
He said that every member of the team is committed to help both drivers, and support them in every way possible.
It was the Turkish Grand Prix that first raised the question of rifts between the two drivers, it was Mark Webber who had don exceedingly well in qualifying. The Aussie started the race in pole position and kept the lead, he was clear ahead and on target
to win the race. It was his team mate Sebastian Vettel who decided to challenge him and with just few laps to go. Vettel pushed Webber and in an effort to move ahead bumped into Webber’s car, as the Aussie tried to defend his place. The race ended right there
for Sebastian Vettel, and Webber lost his first spot and ended the race on 3rd place. It was the McLaren duo of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button who got the first and second positions at the end of the race.
After the race, there were strong words exchanged between the two drivers, as both blamed each other for the incident. In the end, Webber famously said we would have to agree to disagree, but most pundits and former drivers believed that it was Vettel who
was at fault.
That was actually not the end of it, at the Silverstone Grand Prix, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner made the decision to take the front wing form Webber’s car and install it into Vettel’s just before the race. The incident had outraged Mark Webber but
ironically, he ended up winning the race. Horner came up with the explanation that Sebastian was ahead of Webber on points, so he was the more likely candidate at the time to win the title. However, as it turned out after winning the race, Webber went ahead
and has held the lead ever since. Soon after crossing the chequered flag, Webber said on the team radio
“not bad for a number two driver”.
The sarcastic comments did not go down too well with the team; however, the team said that the issues had been resolved behind closed doors.
Later on in the Belgian Grand Prix, Mark Webber ended in 2nd place behind Fernando Alonso, and after the race, he said that the team would have to put their weight behind one driver for the title race.
However, after the last race in Japan, the gap between the 2 has been trimmed down, Vettel is just 14 points behind Webber with 3 races to go. In addition, Christian Horner the team boss at Red Bull has made it clear that there would be no favours for either
driver.
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