Red Bull driver Mark Webber of Australia steers his car during the Qualifying for the Emirates Formula One Grand Prix. AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili
How about this for something different? Dual world champion elect, Sebastian Vettel, has vowed to do whatever it takes to secure team-mate Mark Webber second place in the drivers’ standings.
The German said of the Australian, “Mark’s not far away from second, the last few races were…a bit rough for him.
“We hope for the best results possible for ourselves but also for the team”, Vettel said.
Vettel’s statements were given further credibility (cough cough) by Red Bull team principal, Christian Horner, who claims that “Mark is a crucial player for us…his performances have helped us win the constructors’ championship… we want to get him second in the championship”.
Horner added that the outfit’s target is to “get him (Webber) a race win and finish the season in style”.
Is it just me, or did the entire statement sound wrong?
From Vettel, and again from Horner.
Vettel’s comments can be translated to read ‘we’ve already won both titles, now it is time for me to keep winning races in accordance with my obsessive-compulsive desire to claim every record, and for Mark to continue supporting me with solid third-place finishes.’
Whilst Horner is really saying, that Red Bull have been ensuring Webber doesn’t get first place until this point, and only now that both the drivers’ and constructors’ title have been wrapped up, that they are willing to afford Webber the chance of victory.
What can be extracted from this, is first of all, that Sebastian Vettel is not a very good liar – we all know that this man settles for nothing other than first place.
Christian Horner obviously thinks that Mark Webber has an IQ of less than 70.
And finally, the notion that Webber is nothing but a pawn in Red Bull’s plans for domination has been realised, which both Vettel and Horner tacitly confirmed through their comments.
I won’t, nor will anybody else, believe a word that comes out of Vettel and Horner until Mark Webber is sighted on the top step of the podium once more, because we all know the truth, Red Bull’s opinion of the Australian is that he’s ‘not bad for a number two driver’.
Lindiwe
Guest
Believe me, it takes a lot for me to actually read people's comments and not react badly. I'm a fan of both Vettel and Webber (Vettel more than Webber) but I must agree on what most of you said. Vettel probably wouldnt physically let Webber win, Christian Horner and Red Bull Racing do 'favour' Vettel, and so on. But who can be blamed for him not having won a race even though Vettel has the same car? If anything, Webber should have won the races McLaren and Ferrari did. Just saying...
steven
Guest
RBR and vettel sucks....... by saying all those craps, they will make mark looks really bad even if he win any 1st place. people would think mark can't do anything with out vettel's help. Horner and Vettel are doing their revenge on mark for what happended in turky 2010. i think it's time for mark to go to McLaren after next year.
Paul
Guest
There is at least half a dozen drivers currently in F1 that would be in the same position as Vettel if they had his car and blatant team bias. Webber was never going to be anything but second at best. In the last race of 2010 Webber was ordered to pit and Ferrari took the bait. Marko, Horner and Vettel couldn't believe they fell for it. And someone that hadn't really done enough to deserve the championship had IT.
Brett McKay
Guest
Ken it would be something of a reward for Webber's role as blocker last year. Though that wasn't orders per se, it just seemed like he never had the fastest car. Faster than everyone else, just not fast enough to catch the bloke in front.. I agree with your sentiments though, and that's actually how I interpretted Horner's comments, that Webber would now be getting the priority in the garage...
Ken
Guest
Does anyone really want that though? Is it really a win if the other bloke pulled over to let you past? Don't get me wrong I think Webber's getting shafted but the reality is that a 23 year old wunderkid from Germany with sponsors queuing around the block is a better long term financial prospect than he is so all the support goes that way. For Webber, and us long suffering fans, it sucks but this type of thing has been in F1 for decades. With the championship all wrapped up it would be great if he could get the latest gear, the pit strategies worked around him, the optimum run in qualifying etc but I can't quite stomach drivers waving others by.... even if anyone believed Vettel would do that anyway!
Brett McKay
Guest
Radical, Vettel also said something along the lines of 'if that's what it takes' when asked if this change of tack meant pulling over to allow Webber through to the lead during a race. It all sounds very noble, of course, but I'm sure the general feeling among Webber supporters is that we'll believe that when we actually see Vettel let Webber through during a race...
Stam
Guest
I don't think there's a sportsmen out there at the moment whose memoirs I more look forward to reading than webbers, I get the feeling the gloves will come off once he retires!