Well, Ernie, he had a good shot in 2010 despite less-than-equal treatment but now, after last year, it seems less likely. I'd like to see him have a go: what has he to lose? Marko has already decreed that Mark will "retire" after this year.
No you know they were not even because Webber was subject to team order twice last season (that we know of) and Horner has said several times that Red Bull is being built around Vettel.
Dietrich Mateschitz has made it public that he expects equal treatment for both Mark and Sebastian this year and that Webber now has a new chief engineer. Whilst I can't stand Horner and Marko, Mateschitz has always made a bit more sense to me and that's not just because of what he's saying now.
Miggins: Of course I'm not privvy to the internal politics at Red Bull but I believe there is sufficient information in the public domain to confirm that Vettel is Red Bulls favored pilot. As to Webber not being up to the job, he has on occasion shown he can do it, although I do agree he also becomes somewhat emotional and blows it at times. Ninja: I never understood why Marko has so much influence within Red Bull, after all it's not as if he was exactly a winner himself.
The evidence in the public domain has been supplied by Webber himself, if you wish to trust that then that's your shout, word from the Redbull garage about wing-gate (which started the whole favouritism thing) is that Webber didn't exactly tell the full truth to the media, and has a tendancy to 'edit the facts'. And I never heard anyone complain about favouritism when Webber was on the receiving end, I wonder why that is...... TBH I think it's ludicrous that anyone suggests that Webber has the quality of Vettel, and to imply that he's better, which is what some of you are doing is, quite frankly, mental.
Me mental, how dare you, now where's me straight jacket and where's that bloke in the white coat thinking of sticking that bloody great syringe. I don't think I proposed that Webber was actually the equal of Vettel, merely asked, could he be, obviously you don't think he is, would you care to confirm !!!
I'm not moaning about Webber (yet), merely everybody's inflated view of the guy who would've come 4th overall in the fastest car if his team-mate hadn't let him win the final race. It should be obvious to all that he simply isn't in the same league as Vettel, and all these 'favouritism' complaints are really just excuses to hide that fact. Ok, I read it and I did. But also please read all the posts on this thread and see if you don't come to the conclusion that for some reason people rate Webber higher than Vettel. Max seems to think that Vettel got preferential treatment in 2010, yet only Webber was the beneficiary of team-orders that season, no complaints from anybody then, at all.
I don't suppose for a fleetimg moment that it's anything to do with Vettel being a German and Webber is not, do you.
Webber was Red Bull's number one in 2009 and still got beaten by Vettel. And he wouldn't have been close in 2010 had Vettel not suffered 3 mechanical failures while leading grands prix. Vettel's improved since then, whether Mark gets equal billing or not is by the by because he's so far behind his teammate anyway. Same with Alonso and Massa. Not sure what to expect from Webber this season. I think he'll raise his game initially, and in terms of time he'll be closer to Vettel, but if the field is compressed more he might find himself further behind on the grid, which will be pretty tough to deal with mentally. I know he's a fighter but with this being his last season I could maybe see him becoming demotivated if things don't go his way.
Personally, I think the events of Turkey 2010 speak volumes for how Red Bull operates, though there are plenty of other incidents, like Mark's front wing being robbed when Seb broke his own, for example. These aren't things that Webber invented. In 2010, Webber proved that on his day he can drive as well as the best of them but he can be erratic too. The points being raised were that he doesn't get a fair treatment from his team. Vettel is the chosen one and he has that team wrapped around his famous finger. Maybe that's what he's telling us when he shakes it at the camera.
I believe this season will be Webber's last, Marko isn't too keen on him, and Marko get's what he wants. expect to see Vergne in the Red Bull for 2013 (even though Ricciardo is probably better)
Ok everyone just to please Miggins, we won't ever say Webber's name any more. Or Schumacher's. Or Barrichello's. Or Prost's.
http://en.espnf1.com/redbull/motorsport/story/23634.html If anyone has a link to the BBC videos from that weekend I'm pretty sure Brundle mentions Webber not liking the new wing prior to the damage. And as to Turkey, I'm not a team principle, but I wouldn't be particularly happy with either driver tbh, both caused an avoidable accident imo, Webber wasn't going to be able to defend his position, and he should've known it, Vettel shouldn't have moved so violently across, and he should've known it.
Ok, let's agree to disagree, Miggins. You don't like Webber, I think he's had a raw deal; our positions aren't going to change.
Turkey 2010 was Vettel's fault and the only person who couldn't see it was Marko, who I must say is not the tactful type. Yeah, this is Webber's last year at Red Bull, I don't doubt. Ricciardo is too quick to leave out, so a return to Williams might beckon. Webber, we must not forget, came to Red Bull back when they were in the middle of the WCC pack - he's in a sense a relic of that former era. I'm surprised he lasted this long, though his performance in 2010 was fantastic given how much the team clearly hated it.
A few points I would like to make on the subject. I think everyone will agree that Vettel is obviously the better driver, but Webber is still very good on his day and has pushed Vettel hard on occasions and even been a match for him at times. The Turkey 2010 and Silverstone 2010 incidents along with the quotes from Horner saying that they are building the team around Vettel, plus with the team orders last season, this is in my opinion conclusive proof that Vettel is the number 1 driver at Red Bull and is their focus and will get preferential treatment and is the driver that they want to win races and championships with. That Vettel being the main driver at Red Bull is not an insult or an attempt to disparage him. Webber has been at Red Bull since they were a midfield team with a car embarrassingly slower than the Toro Rosso and has been part of the team that has helped turn them into back-to-back double world champions (which Vettel has taken advantage of) which should not be forgotten and shows that he deserves his seat at Red Bull. Also I find it funny how Miggins rubbishes anything Webber says but whole heartedly believe what an 'unnamed engineer' says .
