F1: Webber Insists Wing Saga Now Over

Formula 1

F1: Webber Insists Wing Saga Now Over

Mark Webber says he's fine with teammate Sebastian Vettel and team principal Christian Horner...

Adam Cooper | http://www.speedtv.com | Posted July 15, 2010 Balen (BEL)

Mark Webber is third in the Formula One World Championship standings. (Photo: Getty Images)

Mark Webber says that the air has been cleared at Red Bull Racing following last weekend’s wing controversy at Silverstone.

In a statement on his own website, the Australia native admitted that he was frustrated at the time, but said that following a meeting at the factory, he has moved on.

“My disappointment on Saturday after qualifying spilled over into Sunday,” he wrote. “But it was simply due to the fact that I, along with every other driver on the grid, wanted the best possible chance of success.

“Sebastian (Vettel, teammate) received the newer front wing for reasons which were not clearly explained to me until Saturday late afternoon. Obviously, I can see why a team may at certain points have to favor a driver with more points in the championship, if there are only enough resources to fully support one of us.

“We’ve already debriefed the race weekend at the factory and have cleared the air. It’s now understood that, should we face this unlikely dilemma again, preference will go to the championship points leader.

“Of course things get said in the heat of the moment which, with hindsight goggles on, probably shouldn’t have been said. Formula One is a highly charged and fiercely competitive arena where emotions and adrenalin do run high from time to time like in many sports, and my comment on the radio after the race was an example of Australian sarcasm – either at its best or worst depending on how you choose to take it.

“But rest assured, under the helmet I was massively rapped about winning one of the most prestigious events on the F1 calendar and Red Bull Racing’s local race. It’s a home race of sorts for me; I only live 40 minutes down the road and the UK and Buckinghamshire in particular has been home to me for the past 15 years, so Silverstone and the British GP are both very special to me.”

He insisted that he still has a good relationship with the team and its boss.

“Christian Horner and I have known each other for many years; we’re friends and have a strong mutual respect which continues and extends to other activities, such as our GP3 team and interest in finding and nurturing young racing talent.

“The team has produced an awesome car and has come a long way in a short space of time. There are more than 500 people at the Red Bull Racing factory at Milton Keynes and I know that each and every one of them share the highs and lows that Sebastian and I experience during the season. The support we both enjoy is phenomenal, and on Sunday evening many of them joined us at Christian’s annual post-race party and celebrated our win in style.

“The respect within the team extends to the drivers. I know I have a very good driver as a teammate and I wouldn’t want it any other way. We share information freely in team meetings and contribute to the development and improvement of our cars.

“Seb and I are not enemies; we’re just two drivers that are pushing hard and want to do the best for ourselves and the team. It’s as simple as that.”

Adam Cooper notched up his 25th season as a racing journalist in 2009. Born in London, England, he saw his first F1 race at age 10 in 1976. He began freelancing for Autosport magazine in 1985 and was on the fulltime staff from 1987-92. He then went freelance again, initially spending two years in Japan before following the 1994 Champcar series from a base in Indianapolis. He has not missed a Grand Prix since Suzuka ‘94, a run that has extended to Abu Dhabi ’09. Adam has written books about Eddie Irvine, Piers Courage and Michael Schumacher and hosts a race preview show on Sirius XM. He has written about F1 for SPEEDtv.com since 2005. Check out Adam's Blog or follow him on Twitter