I find this quite strange..but this is what Gary Anderson had to say: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/23840357 The writing was on the wall from Friday practice, when Red Bull were stupendously quick. But what happened to team-mate Mark Webber? He was evenly matched with Vettel throughout practice and qualifying only for another poor start to impact negatively on his race. There are conspiracy theories about why this seems to happen so often to the Australian, especially when he is close to Vettel on the grid. But I can't believe Red Bull want to throw away the potential for more points by doing anything to compromise Webber's car. Is the clutch to blame? Well, clutches are complicated. They get bedded in on a rig to map their characteristics so the team know how they work. Then they are fitted to the car. After warming up the cars, the drivers then do a couple of practice starts to find the bite points. Webber says his was like a clutch from a tractor. However, his race starts have been poor for the last three years. Perhaps he does not quite have the reaction time of his team-mate. Perhaps he gets into a bit of fluster at the start of a race. Perhaps his control engineer is not as good as his rival's. The driver does play a big role in the start procedure and my guess is that, every now and again, that part falls down a bit.
Is Mark Webber that unlucky? It is always either the clutch, Kers, gearbox or something...how come it only happens with one car – his car? Gary Anderson said: "I can't believe Red Bull want to throw away the potential for more points by doing anything to compromise Webber's car." But guess what? Red Bull is so far ahead on points in the constructor's championship they can afford to let this happen. They can't afford to have Webber take points off Vettel though. As I said elsewhere, I am very sorry for Mark Webber and more sorry for whoever will replace him. Daniel Riccardo says that he thinks Red Bull will be fair to him and let him race Vettel – In your dreams Ricciardo. It will never happen!
This is an interesting and provocative thread, dhel. Your final sentence is generous, but I'm sure he knows the procedure backwards and can do it in his sleep. You've listed a few 'ifs' but kindly left out the shadiest of all, which none of us want to contemplate. Some of the possibilities don't bear thinking about, especially as, as you've mentioned, it seems to happen so often. Actually, I'm sure Webbo would find this an interesting little topic… [Edit: Dhel; your second post appeared as I was writing this one. I was referring to the first, believing you to have written it. I now realise, however, that your post was mostly text copied from the link you've provided. P.S. I'm easily confused…]
Cosicave, I am pretty sure Webber will be interested in this topic...but what I am very sure about is that he will be more than interested in what fans will reply in response to this question. Webber goes through three practice session and three qualifying sessions and you will tell me that the GREAT Red Bull combination led by Genius, the great Adrian Newey could never get to the bottom of any of Webber's car troubles - especially when he is close to Vettel? If he is close in Q2 you can believe he will have a problem by Q3. If he is close in Q3 even with a problem you can book it sure that he will be the slowest car off the grid in the race. And if it happens that he is leading he is told to turn down his engine a few laps from the finish and that Vettel has already turned his down - only to see Vettel sweep by to win the race - As we saw earlier this year. Gary Anderson – NO, it is not a mystery. A mystery is something that is not fully understood or that baffles or eludes the understanding. Cosicave, there is nothing baffling about that treatment, it's very straightforward to me.
Webber has always been a bad starter. It's nothing to do with him being close to Vettel, however the other failures may be.
But are Webber's bad starts a problem of his own making or the same clutch problems he had in last race? He said the clutch was like that of a tractor... Was that Webber or Red Bull?
Let's say one Sunday Vettel was so ill he couldnt start the race - i am willing to bet that all of Webber's problems will mysteriously disappear...totally!
It does seem odd but Mark's always has shocking starts I remember a few times when he started high up for Jaguar he fell back massively, Malaysia 2004 springs to mind where he went from 2nd to 14th.
All the other pieces of "bad luck", like Kers and gear box problems – two new front wings, Vettel destroys his and gets Mark's - I mean there are too many instances for this to be classified as failures on Mark's part...too too many! What does this say for the new man coming into the team? I think Vettel is a great driver, don't get me wrong, but if you also have a fantastic car you really don't need that extra help. I have no problem with team orders when your team mate is out of the running for the title...no problems with that, but you have to give the guy a level playing field or you will destroy his confidence and he will start to make all kinds of mistakes.
I doubt it's intentional... I imagine Vettel has the cream of the crew crop working his car, which could account for fewer issues
SgtBhaji I would want to believe so too....if it weren't so blatant. It's not just mechanical..there are other things too...for instance, when Vettel overtook Webber a few races ago, I think that was one of the few times Vettel's car had any malfunction, and it was the radio so he couldnt hear the messages properly telling him to hold station... Conveniently so right? It's too plain to be a mystery in my opinion.
Doesn't make any sense to sabotage him... he might not get the same backing within the team, but sabotaging him would be pointless. He's not really a threat to Vettel anyway.
He isnt a threat to Vettel as a championship contender but if he takes points off Vettel then he poses a different threat. You get my point? If he takes points off Vettel then the other championship contenders come into play.
He isnt a threat to Vettel as a championship contender but if he takes points off Vettel then he poses a different threat. You get my point? If he takes points off Vettel then the other championship contenders come into play. SgtBhaji But if they get him finishing second... they suck even more points from the opposition. The problem with that is... knowing Webber he will fight for the win if they let them race. But right now he is just another four wheels in the race. I dont know how he stuck with that so long to be honest.
Why wouldn't they put a cheaper, less talented driver in the second car if they really don't care about it?
Seb got the lead at the start of the race...so even if Webber got a good start Vettel was in front early - But you are forgetting this small detail – The Australian (Mark Webber) had been waved back out too soon after his first pit stop on the ninth lap, and his right-rear wheel became detached, bouncing down the pit lane. It subsequently struck an FOM cameraman on his left-hand side, knocking him to the ground. The cameraman remained conscious and was treated at the medical centre before being helicoptered to Koblenz Hospital for observation with a broken collarbone and two broken ribs. Webber lost a lap before restarting, but was waved past the safety car to make up that lap before the race was allowed to restart. I am sure this little wheel incident wouldnt have happened to Vettel.
The only way RBR could give Webber a fair chance against Vettel is if Horner cut off Sebs head and replaced it with a turnip, some people just can't accept the fact that Vettel is the best F1 driver of his era, both Hamilton and Alonso are fantastic drivers, but they just aren't quite as good, Hamilton on his day is probably the fastest, but Vettel is just so consistently good. As for Webber, he soo wants to beat Vettel he probably chokes, as he has a habit of doing.
In case Vettel has a problem, they would still want someone who could pick up points and bring the car home safely. I think they care, but not enough for Webber to win races.
