Still fuming after winning the British Grand Prix, Mark Webber has questioned his decision to re-sign with Red Bull.
Webber was furious after a new front wing was taken from his car before qualifying and given to teammate and bitter rival Sebastian Vettel.
“Not bad for a number two driver,” Webber quipped to his team after crossing the finish line when they congratulated him on his third Formula One victory this year.
The team said the German deserved the upgraded aerodynamic part because he was ahead of Webber in the championships – a situation which has now been reversed.
Webber says he now feels he should get the preference in new parts for the upcoming German GP at Hockenheim.
“Yesterday was a really unique situation. It was the first time that the team had really had one component,” Webber said.
“Honestly, I would never have signed a contract again for next year if I believed that that was the way it was going to be going forward.
“Yesterday I wasn’t happy, clearly. I’m sure we’ll have some pretty decent chats tomorrow.”
Webber, started from second spot on the grid at Silverstone behind pole sitter Vettel and stunned the German with a brilliant start to grab the lead, which he held onto to finish ahead of Lewis Hamilton’s McLaren and Nico Rosberg’s Mercedes.
But the caustic rivalry between the two Red Bull drivers has re-ignited tension within the team after an uneasy truce which followed the collision between the pair in Turkey.
Webber continued to air his anger at the post-race press conference, saying sarcastically:
“…some of the drivers offered me some front wings from their cars on the parade lap but I said I would stick with what I’ve got. Seb didn’t but some of the other guys tried to offer me a front wing.”
Webber admitted Red Bull’s decision helped fire him up for the race, an attitude his showed from the beginning when he refused to yield to the aggressive Vettel for the first corner.
“How you judge a person’s character is obviously how they come back in a bit of adversity,” Webber said.
“All drivers have some of that in certain parts of their career if they’ve been around for a while.
“I’ve obviously maybe had a bit more than others. It can work, but … you want to make sure it isn’t constantly happening, I mean the challenges, because otherwise it can sometimes test you a bit too much.
“But if the balance is right, it certainly puts a bit of fuel on the fire.”
Webber’s victory was an impressive and defiant comeback from the last race in Valencia when he was lucky to escape with bruising after somersaulting through the air at 300km/h.
Vettel claimed he had to let Webber through at the start due to the wrong settings for his clutch.
But his attempt to seize the first turn was repelled and he ran off the track, pitting for a puncture before rejoining the field and fighting back to seventh.
The German responded to Webber’s fury with more veiled comments after the race.
“Well, obviously I focus on myself and sort of see, I guess,” Vettel said.
“Especially after what happened in the past. People have different opinions, I have my opinion.
“I have made my experiences, sometimes good and bad, and you get to know people probably a bit better and see their true faces.
“I think I learned my lesson, and now I focus on myself.”
Team boss Christian Horner said he did not regret his decision to swap wings on the cars but admitted he needed to talk to Webber.
“Of course, we will talk about it, and if the air needs to be cleared it will be cleared,” Horner said.
Webber has now jumped to third on the championship standings on 128 points, behind Britons Lewis Hamilton on 145 and Jenson Button on 133.
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