Home | Formula 1 | Horner tells Webber to put focus back on track

Horner tells Webber to put focus back on track

Christian Horner has advised Mark Webber to put his focus back on track.

Red Bull’s team boss admitted he was disappointed and surprised with the Australian’s comments in Brazil, with Webber suggesting it is “f***ing obvious” that Sebastian Vettel receives the bulk of the emotional support despite the points situation.

Speculation is now rife that, despite having signed a 2011 contract, it is likely Webber’s last race in a Red Bull will be next Sunday’s championship finale in Abu Dhabi.

“If I had a message for him, it would be ‘Let’s focus on the racing’,” said Horner.  “Let’s get on with it.”

He dismissed the histrionics so far this weekend as “mind games” and a push for a favourable team strategy, but advised Webber to instead work hard to beat his teammate on merit.

“No one wants to be gifted a championship and he owes it to himself to go out and finish the job,” said Horner.

“He has had a great season winning some of the great races, like Silverstone and Monaco, and he needs to focus on redelivering that kind of form.”

The apparent disunity is also a psychological gift to Red Bull’s championship rivals, with Fernando Alonso already admitting this weekend that he is happy with the situation.

And McLaren’s Jenson Button said: “He (Webber) is obviously all over the place after the last race, binning it, and suddenly he’s behind, chasing.

“He hasn’t got the margin anymore and there is a lot going on in his mind, I guess, because of that,” added the defending world champion.
 © RIF | GMM