![\"Sebastian-Vettel-car-1\"](\"https:\/\/www.racinginfocus.com\/rif\/gallery\/f1-2013-rif-images\/f1-2013-drivers\/Sebastian-Vettel-car-1.jpg\")
Although the German has won the past three world championships for the team, and is currently running away with a fourth consecutive title in 2013, his teammate Mark Webber has always pushed for equal status.<\/p>\nSebastian Vettel has rejected suggestions Daniel Ricciardo’s appointment as his teammate next year makes him the undisputed ‘number 1’ at Red Bull.<\/p>\n
Although the German has won the past three world championships for the team, and is currently running away with a fourth consecutive title in 2013, his teammate Mark Webber has always pushed for equal status.<\/p>\n
But with Webber now departing for Le Mans, the energy drink-owned team has decided to replace him with a younger Australian, Ricciardo, who is being promoted from the second Red Bull outfit Toro Rosso.<\/p>\n
Ricciardo, 24, has secured the post despite Red Bull’s admission it considered signing Kimi Raikkonen.<\/p>\n
It gives the impression Red Bull, although insisting identical equipment and support will be supplied to both drivers in 2014, wanted to give Vettel clear air with de-facto ‘number 1’ status in deference to his title successes.<\/p>\n
German Vettel, however, denied that claim in conversation with the Spanish daily Marca.<\/p>\n
“It makes no sense to talk about team leadership,” said the 26-year-old.<\/p>\n
“At every team there are two drivers and both have the same opportunities, but in the end there can only be one winner.<\/p>\n
“‘Number 1’ or ‘number 2’ is something that seems pretty outdated in formula one today,” Vettel insisted.<\/p>\n
Throughout Red Bull’s deliberations, Vettel said publicly that he wanted to be paired with his friend Raikkonen next year.<\/p>\n
So is he happy the Red Bull junior Ricciardo ultimately got the nod?<\/p>\n
“In the end it doesn’t matter who your teammate is,” said Vettel.<\/p>\n
“The important thing is to integrate in the team so you can be pushing all in the same direction.”<\/p>\n
He insisted that, despite their eventually broken personal relationship, he was always able to work ‘professionally’ with Webber — even after the damaging ‘multi-21’ affair of Malaysia.<\/p>\n
Marca asked Vettel if he will be giving the veteran Australian a parting gift, to mark the end of their five-year partnership.<\/p>\n
“Maybe a box of chocolates,” Vettel, who said earlier this year that he took victory in Malaysia because Webber did not ‘deserve’ it, joked.<\/p>\n
“To be honest, I think we were always very successful together and he was a very difficult driver to beat.<\/p>\n
“He contributed a lot to the team; really positive things.\u00a0 Many more positive than negative,” added Vettel.<\/p>\n
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