Horner says Webber is not a "world class" driver
Discussion
Or pretty much
They're happy with Webber driving with Vettel, but don't think two World-Class drivers would work well together.
So there you have it - final confirmation (as if it were needed) of how they see and treat Webber.
Horner said:
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner does not believe a move for Lewis Hamilton would suit his team.
McLaren's Hamilton, 26, has been linked with a switch to Red Bull in the build-up to Sunday's British Grand Prix.
But Horner finds it "difficult to envisage" Hamilton and Red Bull's world champion Sebastian Vettel would work as a partnership.
"History dictates that two world-class drivers in the same team has not always been the best pairing," said Horner.
"You only have to think of Senna-Prost, Piquet-Mansell, or even Alonso and Hamilton.
"We are hugely happy to have Sebastian committed to the team long term, and with Mark [Webber], we're very pleased with the job he is doing.
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/formula_one/140445...McLaren's Hamilton, 26, has been linked with a switch to Red Bull in the build-up to Sunday's British Grand Prix.
But Horner finds it "difficult to envisage" Hamilton and Red Bull's world champion Sebastian Vettel would work as a partnership.
"History dictates that two world-class drivers in the same team has not always been the best pairing," said Horner.
"You only have to think of Senna-Prost, Piquet-Mansell, or even Alonso and Hamilton.
"We are hugely happy to have Sebastian committed to the team long term, and with Mark [Webber], we're very pleased with the job he is doing.
They're happy with Webber driving with Vettel, but don't think two World-Class drivers would work well together.
So there you have it - final confirmation (as if it were needed) of how they see and treat Webber.
courageous said:
It is true (although I would say Webber is a 1.5 rather than number 2 driver) - but what kind of idiot boss says that sort of thing in public?
Thankfully, Mark is big enough to not let it bother him - but jeez Horner is a pick for saying that
It's not the first time Horner has shown clear bias for his Golden Boy for sure, but it does seem monumentally tactless as you say. Thankfully, Mark is big enough to not let it bother him - but jeez Horner is a pick for saying that
Life Saab Itch said:
That thread is a more wide-ranging discussion on Vettel, Hamilton, and the like and merely touches on the topic of this thread (to the tune of just one post). And that is the defence I will present to the mods.
Edited by JonRB on Wednesday 6th July 19:18
JonRB said:
courageous said:
It is true (although I would say Webber is a 1.5 rather than number 2 driver) - but what kind of idiot boss says that sort of thing in public?
Thankfully, Mark is big enough to not let it bother him - but jeez Horner is a pick for saying that
It's not the first time Horner has shown clear bias for his Golden Boy for sure, but it does seem monumentally tactless as you say. Thankfully, Mark is big enough to not let it bother him - but jeez Horner is a pick for saying that
Yes he's saying that Vettels number 1 and Webber number 2 but I fail to see how everyone here is suprised. Its proved to be a much more successful approach for Red Bull as can be seen in this year championship to have a clear number 1. Its not as if Webber has a load of other options on the table so he's likely to put up with it much like Massa at Ferrari.
It works in Mclaren to have two equal drivers as they are hugely different. Button realises Hamilton is faster but Button and thinks and uses his experience to get the upper hand in changing circumstances.
It works in Mclaren to have two equal drivers as they are hugely different. Button realises Hamilton is faster but Button and thinks and uses his experience to get the upper hand in changing circumstances.
Mini1275 said:
He's obviously forgotten that Webber matched (and beat) their "world class" driver for the majority of last year then.
True but you could argue that Vettel didn't become 'world class' untill he won his WC. This year he has been a different driver, a league above where he was last year, whereas Webber reached his peak years ago and never was it quite to the level of Seb is now. I don't think many people would disagree with the assesment of vettel being amoung the best in the world currently, and Webber being in the next group of very good, but not great, drivers. Its almost impossible to come up with any argument for webber being in the same catagory as Ham/Alonso/Vettel.For a team boss to say this though is madness, sometimes Horner is very professional, but he does have a bad habit of saying the wrong thing.
Forbes82 said:
Replace Whitmarsh and Brawn with Todt or Chapman imo. Like Whitmarsh but he has alot to prove yet, and Brawn's role as a world class team manager was only really for one (admittedly fantastic) year at BrawnGP.
Chapman was never a good "People manager" unless your name was Jim Clark , theres certain similarities you could draw with Clark / Hill/ Chapman and Vettel , Webber / Horner Disagree about Brawn
Theres was a very interesting interview in Motorsport a few years back with Jackie Oliver , who was quoted as saying , when Ross Brawn came to work for Arrows , he was the best people manager and organiser that Jackie had ever encountered , shortly afterwards Ross left for Jaguar and won the 1991 Sportscar championship , before embarking on the successfull shumacher years at Benneton and Ferrari and of course with Brawn GP.
Mclaren fan here
I think it's all too easy to criticise Horner but his record speaks for itself. You'd have to place him above whitmarsh as one's team is dominating, the other ones been floundering for a few good years and still way off the pace despite having 2 of the best drivers. Horner seems like a good guy an because he's British wish him he best of luck.
why the suprise about webber? he's a journeyman driver! some are saying he was all over the golden boy for the majority of last year but did he win the WDC? no, he fluffed it when it counted.
I think it's all too easy to criticise Horner but his record speaks for itself. You'd have to place him above whitmarsh as one's team is dominating, the other ones been floundering for a few good years and still way off the pace despite having 2 of the best drivers. Horner seems like a good guy an because he's British wish him he best of luck.
why the suprise about webber? he's a journeyman driver! some are saying he was all over the golden boy for the majority of last year but did he win the WDC? no, he fluffed it when it counted.
disco1 said:
I think it's all too easy to criticise Horner but his record speaks for itself.
To be honest, and this might be slightly OT, but I do strongly believe that Adrian Newey has done more for Red Bulls winning form than anyone else in that team. It's no coincidence that both McLaren and Williams won while he was there.Take Horner, Vettel and Webber out of Red Bull and I don't think things would be dramatically different.
Since the moment I saw Christain Horner I thought "knob" I think it's his hair to be frank.
Last year Webber didn't get the respect or support he deserved "not bad for a number 2 driver" and all that.
This year with Vettle being so dominant (Mark says because he's grasped the new tyres where as he's struggled with them) I doubt Webber has any illusions who's number one, I think he wants his head read staying with RB for 2012, there's not a driver on the field who doesn't think they could be champ with the right car so perhaps he's hoping that next year he'll be able to eclipse Vettle and the RB will still be the car to beat, but or he was only getting noise about mid / back of the pack seats.
I'd love to see a change in fortunes, maybe the new rules on blown defusers will bring it and Webber beats Vettle a few times, if nothing else it will help the McLaren boys close the gap (hopefully).
Last year Webber didn't get the respect or support he deserved "not bad for a number 2 driver" and all that.
This year with Vettle being so dominant (Mark says because he's grasped the new tyres where as he's struggled with them) I doubt Webber has any illusions who's number one, I think he wants his head read staying with RB for 2012, there's not a driver on the field who doesn't think they could be champ with the right car so perhaps he's hoping that next year he'll be able to eclipse Vettle and the RB will still be the car to beat, but or he was only getting noise about mid / back of the pack seats.
I'd love to see a change in fortunes, maybe the new rules on blown defusers will bring it and Webber beats Vettle a few times, if nothing else it will help the McLaren boys close the gap (hopefully).
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