The victim of Sebastian Vettel’s decision to ignore his team’s instructions, Mark Webber predicted on Sunday that Red Bull would “protect” its triple world champion “as usual”.<\/p>\n
But that might not be the case this time.\u00a0 Publicly at least, Red Bull is angry the 25-year-old German ignored the team and attacked the sister car to win Sunday’s Malaysian grand prix.<\/p>\n
Afterwards, Vettel was contrite but he also claimed it was a “mistake”, not done “deliberately”.<\/p>\n
“I didn’t mean to ignore the call,” he claimed.<\/p>\n
Many couldn’t understand what Vettel meant, and team boss Christian Horner isn’t buying it.<\/p>\n
“He made it quite clear what his intention was by making the move on Mark,” he said.<\/p>\n
Horner said it is wrong if Vettel’s comments create the impression that he might not have heard the radio call.<\/p>\n
“He knew what the communication was,” Horner insisted.\u00a0 “He chose to ignore it.<\/p>\n
“He’s obviously chosen to hear what he wants to hear.”<\/p>\n
Horner said there was no point even asking Vettel – who had earlier screamed ‘Get him (Webber) out of the way!’ on the radio – to give back the position he had taken.<\/p>\n
“Do you honestly think if we’d told him to slow down and give the place back, he’d given it back?” he insisted.<\/p>\n
Nonetheless, there are those who believe that – no matter Red Bull’s public position – Vettel is the obvious ‘number 1′ at Red Bull who only began to apologise late on Sunday because he realised his actions had not been well received.<\/p>\n
The reaction of the press, for example, is near universal.\u00a0 “The ego is number 1,” said Der Spiegel’s Ralf Bach.<\/p>\n
“While Rosberg obeyed (Mercedes), the defiant Vettel overtook ruthlessly — probably because he has nothing to fear.”<\/p>\n
Agreed Bild newspaper’s Frank Schneider: “Vettel looked as though he was surprised by his own brutality.<\/p>\n
“More and more, he reminds of his idol Michael Schumacher, who was loved and hated, and Vettel is on the way there.”<\/p>\n
The pundits also agreed.<\/p>\n
“In the end he has made his unofficial status as number 1 clear,” said former driver Alex Wurz.\u00a0 “So this changes nothing.”<\/p>\n
Indeed, when Horner was asked if Vettel will be punished or penalised in any way, he said only that further discussions “behind closed doors” will take place.<\/p>\n
“It appears a mild slap on the wrist is all an impotent team boss will be able to deliver to his star turn,” said Mirror correspondent Byron Young.<\/p>\n
Former F1 driver Patrick Tambay told France’s RMC Sport: “I think the true character of Sebastian Vettel has been revealed.<\/p>\n
“Outside the car, he is smiling and has the reputation for being very friendly.\u00a0 But when he puts on his helmet, he becomes a warrior, an ogre.<\/p>\n
“He wants to win at all costs.\u00a0 It was roughly the same scenario between Mercedes’ Hamilton and Rosberg, but the latter – a very well mannered boy – followed the instructions of his boss.”<\/p>\n
Added Niki Lauda: “Vettel won with all his might against the logic of the team.\u00a0 It was a serious mistake.”<\/p>\n
Former F1 engineer Joan Villadelprat told El Pais newspaper: “Having two roosters in the henhouse is never easy.”<\/p>\n
According to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, Sauber team manager Beat Zehnder admitted: “He (Vettel) has done himself no favours.\u00a0 This has not gone down well in the paddock generally.”<\/p>\n
Outside the paddock, however, German tennis legend Boris Becker said Vettel “did what a three time champ is supposed to do … take matters in your own hands!”<\/p>\n
Speed Week correspondent Mathias Bruner commented: “He did the right thing as a winner, but not as a sportsman.”<\/p>\n
The most serious ramification of the Sepang saga could be Mark Webber’s career.\u00a0 Having shown Vettel the middle finger after the manoeuvre, the 36-year-old hinted to reporters that he could quit Red Bull or even formula one.<\/p>\n
Horner played that down.<\/p>\n
“Both of them have just sat in a debrief, talked very constructively about the car and focused on where we need to improve and where we need to be better for the next race.<\/p>\n
“The team didn’t manipulate any situation, there was no conspiracy, so why he needs to be thinking about his future or anything like that is just pure emotion,” he added.<\/p>\n
One thing is for certain.\u00a0 Martin Brundle wittily observed during his Sky commentary on Sunday that the “relationship that never was” between Vettel and Webber is now definitely over.<\/p>\n
“They are probably not going out for dinner together,” agreed Dr Helmut Marko.<\/p>\n
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