Webber’s Dirty Protest

by Terry Saunders on 10/07/2011

Mark Webber has said that he ignored the order to not pass Sebastian Vettel at the end of the 2011 British Grand Prix.

The very fact there was a team order has sparked one hell of a debate, as it always will in Formula One.

But in this instance there is a problem.

Christian Horner said that:

It’s a team result… Sebastian had a KERS issue that we were dealing with and the last thing you want to do is see the team give away a whole load of points. From a team point of view we decided that it was best to hold the positions in the final two laps.”

Whilst this might make sense it does rather beg the question that if Vettel had an issue and they didn’t want to give away points, coupled with the fact that he has an almost unassailable lead in the championship (and this was only about 3 points difference anyway) then why was the order to hold position and not to let Webber through?

If Alonso had had a last lap problem then surely it would have made sense to cover all bases and have the KERS enabled car able to hunt him down?

And either way for the constructers championship it doesn’t matter what order the cars come home in.

It’s obvious to everyone that Vettel is favoured in the team, from the Front Wing fiasco last year to lobbying to change what side of the track pole position is on. And now this. It’s understandable, he is a product of the Red Bull machine, immensely marketable, a world champion AND young. The sickening part of all this is both how they try to hide this and then quite how terrible they are at lying.

If Horner had said that they wanted Mark to hold station because he was the number two driver then there would have still been an outcry, but more measured as everyone knows this is the uncomfortable truth, Webber would take an ego bruising and carry on.

But personally, the main problem with the whole situation is that if Webber was ignoring the order then why the hell didn’t he overtake Vettel? Maybe he is the number two driver after all…

  • Bunniemunch

    well if you are such a good overtaker, why don’t you go and drive a f1 car

    • Anonymous

      I’m not a good overtaker, but I’m good at spotting hypocrisy.

      (And webber did have KERS and DRS – looked easy)

      • Phil

        Bunniemunch, are you six?

  • Gary Barlow

    I felt for Webber until he spoke. “It was a one sided conversation, mate. I ignored them, mate.” So basically you rebelled and failed anyway, thus vindicating their dim opinion of you? Either accept the title or stop fucking re-signing.

  • http://twitter.com/hang_check Andy Wallington

    If Webber is looking like he’ll be off and is offered a drive at Ferrari is there any point? If there’s one place he’s guaranteed to be the number two driver that’ll be it and if he attempts anything that Spanish c*nt will throw his toys as far as possible out of the pram until he gets his way.

  • Phil

    Disappointed to read this headline and find out that Mark hasn’t smeared shit all over his garage (or better, Vettel’s) as a protest against Helmut (heheheh) Marko.

    Senna once said “If you don’t go for a gap, then you are no longer a racing driver.” He would be appalled at the state of F1 these days. He would understand Lewis going for Button in Canada.

    Webber needs to put up or shut up now. He must be under no illusions that he will never be given a fair crack of the whip whilst he is at Red Bull. He is like Massa, he knows that he will only ever be a number 2 driver, who will allowed to win only if Vettel is out or the championship won.

    Problem is that there is nowhere competitive for him to go, so I expect him to stay at RBR until a McLaren drive becomes available.

  • Phil

    Disappointed to read this headline and find out that Mark hasn’t smeared shit all over his garage (or better, Vettel’s) as a protest against Helmut (heheheh) Marko.

    Senna once said “If you don’t go for a gap, then you are no longer a racing driver.” He would be appalled at the state of F1 these days. He would understand Lewis going for Button in Canada.

    Webber needs to put up or shut up now. He must be under no illusions that he will never be given a fair crack of the whip whilst he is at Red Bull. He is like Massa, he knows that he will only ever be a number 2 driver, who will allowed to win only if Vettel is out or the championship won.

    Problem is that there is nowhere competitive for him to go, so I expect him to stay at RBR until a McLaren drive becomes available.

  • RubberGoat

    It’s Hypocrisy.  Last year Red Bull proudly stated that there were no team orders and that the drivers were free to fight for the championship because Vettel was winning.  Now when the tables are turned, Webber is told to hold station.  I honestly have no idea why he puts up with all the crap Red Bull throw at him? 

    But then, he has nowhere else to go – it’s not like things would be any different if he went to Ferrari…

    • Phil

      I think that the reason he puts up with the crap is simply, unless he wants to move to a lower echelon team (hello Williams, Toro Rosso) there are no drives available. He has to eat humble pie and do as he’s told.

      I remember the other year, when Christian Horner came out attacking Ferrari for their team orders, I thought it was admirable, but even at that stage, Mark Webber wasn’t getting equal treatment (ie front wing) from Red Bullshit.

      I remember feeling how angry I was with Ferrari. Not for having team orders (that is something I expected) but to blatantly lie to the fans (Rob Smedley in particular was shameful) who knew better – that really burned me up. Now, the same shitty condescending attitude is displayed from Horner and it makes me want to vomit.