Red Bull driver Mark Webber is confident he will receive equal treatment from the team next season despite teammate Sebastian Vettel having won the 2010 Formula One drivers’ title.
The re-legalisation of team orders and Vettel’s world title had led to speculation that Webber will be forced into a supporting role next season but the Australian said that he expected to again be given a chance to fight for the 2011 championship.
“The team know the best way to defend our championship is to put both their feet forward in the best possible way,” Webber said. “That is why we achieved so much as a team.” The Hindu
“I think it’s inevitable when you have two team-mates pushing each other as hard as we were,” he told BBC Sport. “Also, people have to understand that it only happens once every ten-to-15 years, two drivers in one team going for a championship – to have them in the same team and under the same roof is unusual.
“It also happened to be the first time that Red Bull had been through it as a team, so all of us learned a huge amount. There were some growing pains, of course, and being the two competitive individuals we are – both wanting the same thing – it’s going to be strained at times, but our relationship is good now.
“At the end of the year, it was good to have a chat about things and push a few things that had happened away. It’s hard to talk closely to each other during the heat of battle in the season, but over the winter we’ll have more time to build for the season and do a better job, without any friction.” Yahoo! Eurosport UK
The 34-year-old says he’ll be wiping the slate clean for 2011 in the hope he can have another shot at the title, although he admitted it would yet again be an epic battle at the front.
“Sebastian is now World Champion and I need to get in position where I can try and race and beat him as often as I can again.”
“That comes with Jenson [Button], Lewis [Hamilton], Fernando [Alonso], all the normal suspects who will be there.”
“The reset button has been hit,” he said. “We have some new regulations to get on top of. The F1 Times
Webber and Vettel were not held back from racing each other on track in 2010, leading to a collision at the Turkish Grand Prix in May.
But despite some simmering tensions in the team as a result of the clash, Webber says he plans to continue in the same vein next season.
“I am absolutely confident that next year will be a great opportunity for me to get phenomenal results again,” Webber added.
“I will need to beat everyone and one of those drivers is going to be Seb. Full credit to Seb to have the No. 1 on his car, but come first practice in Bahrain, that won’t make him go any faster.” SkySports
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