Sebastian Vettel continues to grow while Mark Webber is slipping into a subordinate role at Red Bull.<\/p>\n
That is the view of Gerhard Berger, who was 23-year-old reigning world champion and championship leader Vettel’s first F1 team boss at Toro Rosso a few years ago.<\/p>\n
“He wanted to be the youngest champion, the first for Red Bull, he wanted to be better than his teammate Mark Webber — he has succeeded on all counts,” the Austrian ten-time grand prix winner Berger told Welt newspaper.<\/p>\n
He said the young German is destined for greatness while Australian Webber is slipping into a Rubens Barrichello-like role when the Brazilian was Michael Schumacher’s reluctant number 2 at Ferrari.<\/p>\n
“It looks like it,” Berger was quoted as saying on Saturday, as Vettel soared to a third consecutive pole in China while Webber bowed out in Q1.<\/p>\n
“Sebastian was already faster last season but in the mid-season had a little slump.\u00a0 Now there is a huge gap between them.\u00a0 The roles are clear,” he insisted.<\/p>\n
Berger speculated that it is “difficult to cope mentally” for Webber, having seen Vettel and 50 other important team members including Adrian Newey and Christian Horner all extending their contracts.<\/p>\n
“When it’s not going so well, the pressure is great, from the team, the fans, the media.<\/p>\n
“I think the time will come when Webber wins races again because he is an excellent driver, but overall the picture is Vettel as team leader, absolutely,” he said.<\/p>\n
Berger also commented on Lewis Hamilton’s recent claim that Red Bull is “only a drinks maker”.<\/p>\n
“That’s the nicest compliment he could make.\u00a0 They have beaten the car manufacturers at their own game,” he said.<\/p>\n
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