Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg says Webber-Vettel episode was a racing incident – Formula 1 news
Mercedes’ Formula 1 driver Nico Rosberg has stated that the incident at the Silverstone Grand Prix of the 2011 season between two Red Bull drivers, Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber, was a racing incident and the team orders were perfectly fine.
Rosberg added that in the end all the Formula 1 drivers are employees of the team and have to do what they are told. The German added that although the goal is to win the championship until the end but teams’ cause should be put ahead than one’s personal
achievements.
After the Silverstone Grand Prix, the environment in the Red Bull camp was not good because Webber was forced to give away the fight from Vettel in the final moments of the race. Webber tried to avoid the orders but in the end was told to slow down, which
he did.
Rosberg’s point of view on this matter is pretty clear as the German said, “At the end of the day we - the drivers - are an employee of the team, and the team has the priority. That is the way it is in racing and in most other team sports as well. We get
paid by the team to represent them, to compete for them on the track and to do well for them.”
The German added, “Of course, looking from a racer’s point of view, you just want to race and win. You have to find out for yourself, and find the right compromise for these situations.”
Ferrari used team orders in the 2010 season to slow down Felipe Massa for Fernando Alonso to pass by. At that point, Red Bull condemned the incident but now the team and the drivers of the Milton Keynes-based team is defending the orders by saying that they
were to avoid accidents.
The next race of the 2011 season begins Friday, July 22, 2011 at the Nurburgring circuit in Germany.
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