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Mark Webber & Sebastian Vettel: Red Bull say row is settled

By Andrew BensonChief F1 writer

Last updated on .From the section Formula 1comments656

Vettel and Webber - best of enemies

Red Bull boss Helmut Marko says the row between Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel has been "settled".

Marko said the two drivers shook hands after a post-race discussion following the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Triple world champion Vettel upset Red Bull team-mate Webber by ignoring team orders and passing the Australian to

Marko said Vettel had been "distressed" by the situation, adding: "I don't think he will do that again."

Marko continued: "In the debrief afterwards, there was the relevant discussions about the race and then there was a handshake between the two drivers.

"For us, now, the issue is settled.

"They don't have to be completely on the same page but it must be a solid working partnership."

Marko, who is the right-hand man of Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz and a champion of Vettel within the team, said he believed the German had learned an important lesson.

"Sebastian apologised in the press conference," said Marko. "That's the first correct step to take.

"He doesn't have to change as a whole, but I think Sebastian was distressed. He was surprised by his radical way of tackling it and I don't think he will do that again."

Marko also insisted the team had been helpless to intervene during the race to stop Vettel disobeying the order to stay behind Webber.

"We told Sebastian to hold his position because we didn't know what the tyre situation was and both drivers need to bring home a good finish for the team," Marko said.

"But then came the attack against that strategy and it got out of control. You couldn't control it over radio or anything like that. Sebastian the racer came out and took the lead."

Team principal Christian Horner revealed Vettel apologised to the whole Red Bull factory this week.

"He's said he can't turn back the clock but he's accepted what he did was wrong," Horner said.

"He's apologised to the team and to every single member of staff for his actions, because he recognises the team is vitally important and being part of the team is a crucial aspect to being able to challenge for those championships."

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656 comments

  • Comment posted by BritAbroad, at 11:37 28 Mar 2013

    I bet that row was easy to settle, with Webber on a surf board and his phone switched off.

  • Comment posted by pretinama, at 11:54 28 Mar 2013

    12. john "The real problem is 'Team Orders'"

    No, it isn't. Drivers are employees who will do as they are told, just like the rest of us.

    "its because Webber was not FAST enough"

    No, it isn't. He was not fast enough because the team told him to turn down his engine and he did so. That is his job.

  • Comment posted by hmw1997, at 11:38 28 Mar 2013

    would they ever say anything different?

  • Comment posted by User0022281170, at 11:49 28 Mar 2013

    Vetteled more like

  • Comment posted by tomnryan, at 16:21 28 Mar 2013

    If Ron Dennis had asked Senna to stay behind Prost, Senna would've stopped his car in the pit lane, gotten out, punched Ron Denis in the face, kicked him in the nuts, jumped back into his car, caught back up to Prost and then overtaken him.

    I miss the good old days.

  • Comment posted by User0829091420, at 19:05 28 Mar 2013

    Let's wait for Webber to say it's all 'settled' and forgotten about before believing this corporate PR from Marko. Vettel can be as 'distressed' as he likes, and apologise as much as he likes but he's still walking way with 25pts and a win so I think he'll cope. If he really was sorry then he'd move over if in the lead next race and hand it to Webber should he be behind, but dont hold your breath.

  • Comment posted by User0438811338, at 15:28 28 Mar 2013

    Time somebody sorted this F1 farce out. It's not Vettel/Webber, it's the rulebook.
    Lets -
    Ban Team Orders
    Ban telemetry to and from the car
    Ban two way radio communications
    Get rid of DRS
    Get rid of KERS
    Get back to real racing car/driver vs car/driver

  • Comment posted by robayeit, at 12:00 28 Mar 2013

    I notice this comes from Helmut Marko and not Horner.

    Obvious now that Horner has no authority in the team as its principal and so his position is untenable in my eyes

  • Comment posted by User0138791583, at 13:39 28 Mar 2013

    What that basically means is that Vettel is going to be protected no matter what he does, and Webber doesn't feel he can afford to burn his bridges with Red Bull as he approaches his forties, so he's begrudgingly letting it go out of obligation to his own career security more than actually forgiving Vettel for his blatant cheating. 'Settled' doesn't always mean 'agreed.'

  • Comment posted by User0466896902, at 12:34 28 Mar 2013

    ...until the next race

  • Comment posted by D1679091963418, at 12:32 28 Mar 2013

    Seb won't be at Ferrari because he won't play second fiddle to Alonso and vice versa.
    @54

  • Comment posted by Sportsmad19, at 12:20 28 Mar 2013

    Lets remember that Webber and Vettel aren't friends and after this, I don't think they ever will be friends. While Webber isn't really someone to hold grudges, the debacle on Sunday would have seriously hurt him and he may now feel he can no longer trust the team to back his corner if Vettel is in the wrong. Red Bull will just hope Webber won't rebel and will drive like he normally does.

  • Comment posted by Andrew Preston, at 21:20 28 Mar 2013

    Funny..... Every time Mr Vettel behaves like a bit of an a**e, it goes into the Red Bull team for discussion, and a little while later.., out pops the result.. Sebastian the cherub smelling of roses. I don't know what Mark Webber's medium term plans are. I do feel though that he would be well rid of this bunch.

  • Comment posted by BaggiosPonytail, at 12:03 28 Mar 2013

    This feels like a Prost/Senna scenario. Although neither Vettel or Webber are at the same level as those two were.

    Like Senna at McLaren in 1989 it seems that Vettel is the main man at Red Bull now.

    There could be some fireworks before the end of the season.

  • Comment posted by Jay Matthews, at 21:06 28 Mar 2013

    Vettel is an over rated driver with best equipment, but worst trait he has is his pathetic over the top comments when he wins on the radio to his team and the rubbish he spouts in press conferences. Hope Webber has the guts to take him out a few times this season, what's he got to lose... nothing he has no support from Red Bull bosses and Christian 'the puppet' Horner. Go for it Mark!

  • Comment posted by User0117591740, at 12:49 28 Mar 2013

    If anyone thinks this issue is settled, I have a nice bridge for selling, any takers?
    This situation did not start with Sunday's race in Malaysia, but had been brewing for months or years, and RBR is guilty of not solving the issue, with the team composition.
    Remember Interlagos 2012 ? Difficult to expect any gifts from someone you tried your best to avoid winning a 3rd WC

  • Comment posted by User0585015723, at 18:57 28 Mar 2013

    Well unsurprisingly Vettel didn't even get a slap on the wrist.
    If you believe (like I do) that a fish rots from the head, and that Helmut Marko is the man responsible for this whole debacle, theres a petition to have him removed from RBR:

    https://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/red-bull-gmbh-remove-helmut-marko-from-any-position-within-formula-one

    Highly recommended, even for Vettel supporters.

  • Comment posted by User0138791583, at 19:07 28 Mar 2013

    Again, for those continuing to make this incorrect comparison between Vettel's actions and Webber last year:

    Webber was told not to overtake Vettel. He ignored orders but only because he was still going as fast as Vettel. He made no secret that he wasn't going to obey.

    Vettel verbally agreed not to overtake Webber while Webber was in cruise mode and not expecting a pass, then broke his promise.

  • Comment posted by Andyp, at 22:01 28 Mar 2013

    what he did wrong is pass his team mate who had turned down his engine maps hence power as he was asked but Vettel did not so had an advantage over Mark who did as the team asked so could not really have a go back at him while trying to adjust his car and also was not expecting it as the team give both drivers the same order . They didn't want to favour anyone that's why the gave the order .

  • Comment posted by Dave, at 17:11 28 Mar 2013

    Look, why can't you just all accept it IS SETTLED.

    Mark has apologised for what he did, Vettel and Horner have accepted and Mark has said he will not do it again.

    CASE CLOSED.

    Mark's Dad has agreed to make a donation to charity to make up for his comments on the matter.

    Hopefully you will all let Mark move on, its not easy for him having to bend over forwards for Vettel and Horner, and he has

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