Category: Red Bull Racing

It’s of no surprise that focus on the future of Mark Webber has remained strong since new Ferrari rumours re-emerged last week. At first Mark seemed coy on the rumour, but did later deny the speculation outright, telling ESPN, “I haven’t signed anything.”

That prompted Christian Horner, Red Bull Team Principal, to pour cold water on the idea his veteran driver was on the move.

Speaking to Autosport, Horner said, “Every spring seems to be a reciprocal thing that Mark is going to Ferrari. He is not wearing red overalls. I think it is inevitable, almost every driver in the pitlane has been linked alongside Fernando next year, but we are focused on ourselves.

“Mark enjoys being within the team, he is happy here and we are happy with him. At the relevant time later in the year we will sit down and talk about the future as we have done in previous seasons.”

Horner explained the team is happy with Webber’s performance, “Mark has driven very well at the first few races. He has been settled in the car, turned up with a different approach this year which has been evident and he’s in good shape.”

Today, the Sydney Morning Herald reports a new deal to keep Webber ay Red Bull is imminent. The report says Red Bull are happy to let junior drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne continue their development with Toro Rosso again in 2013.

[Source: Autosport & SMH | Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

At last weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix Red Bull ran different spec cars. Mark Webber was driving a chassis with the latest updates, including a revised exhaust layout, while Sebastian Vettel was using the RB8 matching pretty much what we first saw back in pre-season testing.

Results from the three races to date go almost exclusively in Webber’s favour. Mark has qualified ahead of Sebastian at all three grands prix and finished fourth in every race so far. Vettel has finished second, eleventh and fifth.

As well as that Vettel has been busy throwing vegetables at the backmarkers, only to be labelled a “cry baby” in return.

Clearly, he’s not enjoying the success he’s become used to. Given the stunning heights the 24-year-old has already scaled in his young F1 career this reality check is not sitting too well with him.

And now he’s being told he has to race in Bahrain using a car not of his choosing. “[The] ‘Webber-specification’ exhaust is the right way forward,” said Red Bull’s chief adviser, Helmut Marko. “We will go on with the Mark Webber car.”

Speaking to Servus TV in Austria, Marko explained why Vettel appears to be struggling, “He can’t get the confidence he needs with the car and this makes him make uncharacteristic mistakes.”

When asked to have a stab at why Webber seems to be coping better with the RB8, Marko replied, “Mark is less sensitive to the [car’s] behaviour. He just needs four wheels, but it’s different for Vettel.”

Confirming two things, one we already knew, that things are different for Vettel at Red Bull and that it seems Webber is the brains of the two when it comes to ongoing car setup and development.

[Source: Speed TV | Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

“Mark Webber stands alone as voice of reason on Bahrain Grand Prix” reads the headline in The Guardian. If nothing else they have offered greater detail in respect to Webber’s latest comments than we first reported, via the BBC, early this morning.

Accordingly, it turns out the Australian veteran has developed into something of an elder statesman, willing to speak his mind not only on matters inside the paddock, but outside as well.

“F1 should have taken a much firmer stance earlier this year, rather than constantly delaying its decision in hope of being able to reschedule the race,” Webber said. “It would have sent a very clear message about its position on something as fundamental as human rights.”

A healthy dose of perspective also helps remind the we’re-F1-so-we’re-vitally-important industry that, well, it’s not actually that important to everyone else in the world.

“It’s a difficult decision, because it’s only a week away, but ultimately it’s only a car race. A hell of a lot of people in the world have no idea that Bahrain is scheduled to host a grand prix, so we don’t want to overstate its importance,” Webber opined. “Things can be cancelled in a flash, but what’s changed since January to make that decision any easier? There will be added security, but not everybody can have that and it doesn’t make me feel comfortable.”

That’s not to say he’s completely ruling out racing next weekend. “I’ve tried to watch the news to get a balanced view of the Bahrain situation, but I know only as much as anyone else, really,” he said. “I want to race but you can’t ignore what’s going on and we all hope things go smoothly.”

Hear, hear.

Contrast that with the frustratingly suffocated comments from Jenson Button—while remembering Mumtalakat, Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund, owns a healthy stake in McLaren—and it’s clear that in F1, as in life, money talks. Or not, in Button’s case.

“I don’t have an opinion. I can’t have one and you know that. I am not speaking as a person, am I? I am sitting here as a McLaren racing driver and trust Bernie and the FIA will make the right call, whatever that is,” exclaimed Button.

[Source: The Guardian | Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

Following the Sebastian Vettel v Narain Karthikeyan hissy fits we were intrigued to learn that Red Bull Racing have up the ante a little.

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has revealed they have sent a warning to Marussia and HRT.

“We have told our team manager to talk to both Marussia and HRT about getting their drivers to pay more attention,” Marko told Austria’s Servus TV. “They drive in a different league, they are six or eight seconds slower, and so they need to watch out more.”

Marko added, “The 12 points which Vettel lost could be crucial in the World Championship.”

Meanwhile, Sebastian Vettel remains unrepentent on his stance against Karthikeyan. Speaking to Sport Bild the dual world champ said, “I lost a solid fourth place, so that’s disappointing. Sometimes you let the emotion show and I don’t think someone should be ashamed about that.”

In another interview the German explained, “It is true that I was disappointed. But just shortly after the race I behaved like I felt. I think this is more honest than to be smiling, when you don’t feel like smiling.”

Vettel remains confident ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix (15 April), “We have a very good car, and I have a good chance of a big year.

“If you look at the sporting side, after two races I have more points than I had in my world championship season 2010.

“I only look ahead now. I have been in the simulator twice and go to China positively.”

[Source: Planet F1 & BBC F1 | Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]