Webber Removes Critical Comments About Red Bull Colleagues
Mark Webber has deleted remarks from his official website in which he criticised Red Bull figures Christian Horner, Helmut Marko and Sebastian Vettel after leaving Formula One.
Mark Webber has removed a series of critical comments about his former Red Bull Racing colleagues from his official website, just days after retiring from Formula One at the end of the 2013 season. The Australian, who is moving to a new role with Porsche in sportscar racing, had published frank reflections on his relationships with team principal Christian Horner, motorsport advisor Helmut Marko and four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel.
Webber’s deleted remarks
The deleted comments, which appeared on Webber’s website shortly after his final race in Brazil, detailed the breakdown of previously close ties with Christian Horner. Webber admitted their relationship had cooled, saying they were “probably not as close now as we once were”. He suggested Horner’s need to maintain stability at Red Bull sometimes came at his expense, adding that it had put “stress on the relationship”.
Webber’s remarks about Helmut Marko were more pointed. He questioned Marko’s role within the team and commented that Marko had been critical of him from the start. Webber credited Marko for supporting Vettel’s career but implied that Marko’s focus on the German driver left little room for others. "He’s probably disappointed that F1 teams have to have two cars. But they do," Webber wrote before the post was taken down.
Relationship with Vettel
Webber described Sebastian Vettel as “phenomenally gifted”, especially in qualifying and the opening laps of a Grand Prix. Yet he acknowledged that their partnership had been marked by tension, stating there was “more negatives than positives” in their history as teammates. Webber suggested that too much had happened between them for an easy reconciliation, though he downplayed any ongoing animosity.
Aftermath and public reaction
Reports from Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport highlighted the strained atmosphere at Webber’s farewell in Brazil. Bernie Ecclestone presented him with a flag signed by fellow drivers, but Vettel’s signature was initially missing. Ecclestone later ensured Vettel signed it after the race, but the episode was noted as another sign of the frostiness between the two former teammates.
With Webber now focused on his new challenge with Porsche, his decision to remove the critical remarks suggests a desire to move on from the tensions that marked his final years at Red Bull. The deleted comments, however, offered a rare glimpse into the personal dynamics within a team that dominated Formula One during his tenure.
