Wound-up Webber considering his F1 career after controversial Vettel victory in Malaysia

Fresh footage shows fuming Webber cutting up Red Bull team-mate Vettel in dangerous move after Malaysia mayhem

By PHIL DUNCAN

PUBLISHED: 13:23, 25 March 2013 | UPDATED: 16:27, 25 March 2013

Dramatic new footage has emerged revealing just how serious the feud is between Red Bull team-mates Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber after the Australian pulled a shockingly dangerous maneouvre after the Malaysian Grand Prix had finished.

Red Bull are in turmoil today after Vettel ignored their clear instruction not to challenge Webber at the climax of the race, and the German was forced to issue an apology for undermining the order which has left his colleague considering his Formula One future.

VIDEO: Scroll down to watch the astonishing footage

Chequered flag: Sebastian Vettel slows down after crossing the finishing line in Malaysia

Who's that coming up? Mark Webber's car zooms into the corner of the camera

Dangerous: Webber steers into the path of Vettel at a furious pace as the German slows down

Best of enemies: Webber then speeds off into the distance leaving Red Bull red-faced

New footage reveals just how angry Webber was in the aftermath of the race as he dangerously cuts across Vettel at high speed to display his fury, only missing his team-mates car by a matter of inches.

Former McLaren driver John Watson, a winner of five grands prix, believes Red Bull must take immediate action against their three-time world champion.

‘The question is, what are the team going to do to sanction Sebastian Vettel? And the only solution I would find is suspending him for next grand prix,’ Watson told BBC Radio 4.

Dangerous: Mark Webber (left) swerved in front of Sebastien Vettel to show his anger

Leading the way: Webber was ahead of Vettel until his team-mate's late surge

VIDEO: Watch Webber's dangerous move

Out of options: Watson says a fine would do nothing and removing the points is not viable

‘You can’t take the points away from him and give them to Mark Webber, a fine would be irrelevant, so the only purposeful way to bring him to book is to say “you will stand out one race”.’

‘I know that if other drivers in other teams disobeyed a team order they would be suspended or even fired.’

Red Bull cancelled their victory photo in the aftermath of yesterday’s controversy while it has been reported that Webber needed to be persuaded to participate in the podium ceremony.

Usurped: Mark Webber would have won the race had Vettel not disobeyed team orders

Watson says Red Bull team principal Christian Horner must take action or risk his position being undermined by Vettel.

‘If Christian Horner doesn’t reassert his authority in the team - because he has been totally subjugated by Sebastian Vettel yesterday - then his position in the team is not exactly the role it is designed to be,’ added Watson.

‘The only conclusion I can reach is that Vettel should be suspended for the next grand prix.’

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Wound-up Webber considering his F1 career after controversial Vettel victory in Malaysia 

By IAN PARKES, PRESS ASSOCIATION

PUBLISHED: 08:21, 25 March 2013 | UPDATED: 11:59, 25 March 2013

Mark Webber will use the next two weeks to take stock of his Formula One career as the rift with Red Bull team-mate Sebastian Vettel grew increasingly fractious.

Webber was left seething after Vettel deliberately ignored team orders to take the chequered flag at the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Leading at the fourth and final pit stop 13 laps from home, Webber and Vettel were under instruction to hold station to the line.

Racing rift: Mark Webber (left) looks unhappy on the podium next to Sebastian Vettel

World champion Vettel, however, tarnished his reputation as he blatantly defied team principal Christian Horner and went on the attack and won the 27th race of his career.

The duo, who previously clashed in the 2010 Turkish Grand Prix when Vettel attacked Webber only to crash out of the race, went wheel to wheel before the 25-year-old German passed the Australian on lap 46.

In the green room, where the top three drivers cool down post race, on the podium and in the main press conference the tension between them was palpable.

Although Vettel apologised it cut no ice with Webber who, when asked whether the situation had made him consider his future with the team and in F1 on the whole, said: 'My mind in the last 15 laps was thinking that many things, yes. Many, many things.'

As to how Webber will respond to an order in the future should he be in a position where he is chasing Vettel for a win, he said: 'That question is not going to be answered right now.

Not a Champagne moment: Webber reluctantly drinks from the bottle while Vettel watches on

'Let's just say there were a lot of things going through my mind in the last 15 laps of the grand prix, lots of different reasons, not just from today but also from the past.

'We'll see what happens. We've got three weeks before the next race (in China on April 14).

'Right now it's very early days, it's very raw, but we need to work out how the team best goes forwards from here.

'That's obviously going to be discussed this week. I will be in Australia on my surfboard, the phone won't be engaged, so let's see what happens.'

Vettel, who had initially shown no remorse for his selfish actions when interviewed on the podium, changed his tune several minutes later when he fielded questions in the press conference.

Leading the way: Webber was ahead of Vettel until his team-mate's late surge

'I can see now he (Webber) is upset, but yeah, I at least want to be honest and stick to the truth and apologise,' said Vettel

'I know it doesn't really help his feelings right now, but I should have behaved better.

'As I've said, I didn't do it deliberately. I didn't realise I had made a mistake. It was only when I came back and saw the team's reaction I realised.'

Horner claims clear-the-air talks were held immediately afterwards, but there is no doubt Webber will head back to his homeland feeling deeply aggrieved and with his mistrust of Vettel exacerbated.

Behind them Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg were also involved in their own team orders controversy, although in this instance the latter obeyed the call from team boss Ross Brawn.

Fuming: Nico Rosberg wanted to overtake Lewis Hamilton but was told to hold back

Clearly faster than Hamilton in the final stint, Rosberg twice asked to be let by only for Brawn to tell him to hold fire, much to the embarrassment of the Briton who believes he should have given way.

Jenson Button, meanwhile, should have finished at least fifth, only for a pit-stop error by his McLaren crew to ultimately wreck his race from which he retired a few laps from home.

As for Fernando Alonso, the Spaniard crashed out in his Ferrari at the start of lap two after the team opted not to call him into the pits for a new front wing damaged on lap one.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-2298680/Mark-Webber-consider-Formula-One-career-Sebastian-Vettel-incident.html#ixzz2OaDitenn
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Webber gives Vettel the finger as world champion IGNORES team orders to win Malaysian Grand Prix

Red Bull in crisis: Webber gives Vettel the finger as world champion IGNORES team orders to win Malaysian Grand Prix 

By SIMON CASS

PUBLISHED: 09:42, 24 March 2013 | UPDATED: 16:39, 24 March 2013

Lewis Hamilton was handed preferential treatment over his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg as Sebastian Vettel defied team orders to deny Mark Webber victory at the Malaysian Grand Prix.

After rain spiced things up at the start, the race boiled down to two titanic struggles between team-mates at Red Bull and Mercedes following four pit stops for the quartet of drivers.

And while Rosberg begrudgingly held station for Hamilton to claim his inaugural podium for his new team, Vettel clearly had no intention of gifting Webber his first win since last year's British Grand Prix.

Scroll down for video

Tension: Sebastian Vettel takes the acclaim of the crowd as his team-mate Mark Webber looks on glumly

The recriminations and repercussions went on long after the chequered flag with Webber inferring Vettel had ignored team orders but that he would be ‘protected’ by the team. Ultimately, the German's victory takes him level with Sir Jackie Stewart on 27 wins.

Vettel left Webber visibly upset, with the Australian driver refusing to acknowledge his team-mate, while the former issued a public apology. Red Bull cancelled their victory photo amid the turmoil. 

'I made a big mistake today and we should have stayed in the position,' said Vettel. 'I messed up in that situation and took the lead from Mark and can say now he is upset. Apologies to Mark. The result is there and all I can say is that I didn't do it deliberately. 

Vettel insisted he wasn't aware of his error until after the race. 'Mark should have won,' he said, adding that he won't make the mistake again.

Tension: Vettel later apologised to Webber although the Australian appeared reluctant to accept his words

Webber, furious after he had slowed whilst leading to save his tyres and engine, now appears to be considering his role at Red Bull.

WHAT THEY SAID

Sebastien Vettel

(During the race)
'Mark is too slow, get him out of the way.'

(Post-race)
'I think we should have stayed in the positions we were. I didn't ignore (the order to hold station) on purpose, but I messed up in that situation and obviously took the lead.

'I can see now he (Webber) is upset, but yeah, I at least want to be honest and stick to the truth and apologise.'

Mark Webber
(Post-race)
'Seb made his own decision and will have protection, and that's the way it goes.'

Christian Horner - Red Bull Team Principal
(During the race - after Vettel completed a risky overtake on Webber)

'This is silly Seb, come on.'
(Post-race)

'He (Vettel) knew what the communication was, but he chose to ignore it. He put his interests beyond what the team's position was.'

Nico Rosberg

(During the race)

'I think I'm faster (than third-placed Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton), let me pass.'

(from his car at the end of the race after complying with team orders)

'Remember this one.'

(Post-race - explaining latter comment above)

'It was a reminder to them (the team bosses) to remember that I played the game.'

Ross Brawn - Mercedes Team Principal
(During the race - in response to Rosberg suggesting he was quicker than Hamilton)

'Negative Nico, negative. Lewis' pace is what we are asking him to do. He can go a lot faster as well, so please be in control as well. There is a massive gap behind and nothing to gain in front. I want to bring both cars home.'

Lewis Hamilton

'If I'm honest it's Nico that should be standing here (on the third step of the podium).

'He deserves to be where I am. Obviously the team thought, with the position in the championship, it was logical to stay in the positions we were in.'

'There were a lot of things on my mind for the last 15 laps so we will see if that medicine (of a break) will work,' he said. 

'Basically, I got myself into position where we were controlling the race. I did a pretty good situation. I was ready for a sprint to the end and the team rang up and said, "the race pressure is off, look after the tyres. Don't fight each other." I turned the engine down.'

The race-defining moment reached its climax with 12 laps to go, prompting the Red Bull team principal Christian Horner to warn Vettel not to be silly. 

Vettel, however was in no mood to give any quarter to his team-mate, and when he finally muscled his way past there was no way back for Webber, who responded with a raised middle finger.

At least Hamilton had the good grace to admit Rosberg should have been on the podium given the pace advantage his team-mate had enjoyed.

'If I am honest Nico should be standing here, he had better pace,' he said. 'I was fuel-saving for a long, long time. But the guys did a great job and I brought it home. I can't say it is the best feeling being up here but racing is racing.'

In a race where the rain is usually a decisive factor, it was the white-hot racing on a dry track which was responsible for the thrilling climax.

The usual shower came around 40 minutes prior to red lights out. But despite conditions clearing for the start, the whole field needed intermediates for the opening laps.

Such tricky conditions can catch out even the best and after getting the drop on team-mate Felipe Massa, Fernando Alonso was on the gearbox of pole man Sebastian Vettel.

But the Spaniard could not keep control of his Ferrari and twice tagged the back of the Red Bull, damaging his front wing.

Remarkably, Alonso stayed out for a second lap and, as his speed got up to 200mph down the main straight, he momentarily pitched his Ferrari into the air, before he slewed into the gravel trap and out of the race.

Vettel was the first into the pits at the end of lap five to put on slicks, but the switch was premature as he tumbled through the order, finishing the following lap in seventh place behind McLaren’s Sergio Perez.

But the mistake by Red Bull was not a patch on the clanger by Hamilton. Mercedes appeared to have got the call to bring Hamilton in at the end of lap seven bang on, but amazingly Hamilton pulled into the McLaren box before being waved down the pit lane by the mechanics of his former team.

The blunder cost Hamilton in the region of six seconds and the chance of emerging from the first wave of stops in the lead.

Instead it was Mark Webber, who also pitted at the end of lap seven, emerged in front after the first wave of stops – the Australian benefiting form Hamilton’s embarrassment and Vettel’s premature visit to the garage.

As matters shook down at the head of the field, Jenson Button - who blundered in similar circumstance to Hamilton at the Chinese Grand Prix two years ago - was maintaining the fifth place he had made up on the opening laps having started seventh on the grid.

Webber was back in at the end of lap 19 as Pirelli’s fragile rubber gave out and he was quickly followed by Hamilton, who found the right garage this time, followed by Vettel and Rosberg.

The top three remained Webber, Vettel, Hamilton once the field sorted itself out, although the reigning world champion opted for the softer compound tyre.

But while the second round of stops was plain sailing for the leaders, any hope of Force India building on their good start to the season evaporated in the pits.

Adrian Sutil had already suffered a tardy first stop but when teammate Paul di Resta visited his pit for the second time disaster struck as the team struggled to remove his front left wheel. A hammer was employed to try and fix the issue, but after finally getting the tyre on, Resta was soon back in the garage to retire his car.

Sutil suffered exactly the same problem, and after dropping to last place, the decision was taken to retire the German’s Force India, the first time both their cars have retired since the Japanese Grand Prix in 2010.

Naughty: Webber appeared to give his team-mate the finger after Vettel defied orders

All smiles? Vettel hugs Red Bull chief Adrian Newey after winning in Malaysia

In front: Vettel defied team orders to overtake Webber and set up his first win of the season

Meanwhile, at the front, Vettel was letting his frustration at being stuck behind Webber on softer tyres get the better of him. Speaking into his radio, as Hamilton closed up behind, Vettel moaned: ‘Mark is too slow, get him out of the way.’

Told to be patient, Vettel was handed the chance to do something about his team-mate as he assumed the lead when Webber and Nico Rosberg pitted for a third time, one lap after Hamilton.

But the decision to stay out an extra lap looked to have proved costly as both Webber and Hamilton swept past Vettel as he emerged from the pits following a slightly tardy stop.

And as Hamilton set about chasing down Webber, remarkably, given McLaren’s woes, Button briefly found himself leading the race until disaster struck.

Visiting the pits for the third time, and looking on for a decent points finish, Button fell foul of McLaren’s blundering pit crew yet again. Just as in Silverstone two years’ ago, McLaren released Button without his front-right wheel properly attached, forcing him to grind to a halt in the pit lane.

Early finish: Fernando Alonso damaged his wing and was forced to retire on the second lap

Not happy: Alonso abandoned his car after being forced to call it a day on the second lap

Blunder: Lewis Hamilton drove into the McLaren pit box instead of his own Mercedes team

Shock: Nicole Scherzinger watches as her boyfriend Hamilton drives into the wrong pit box

McLaren mechanics frantically raced to Buttons car and pushed it back to the garage, but despite finally sending him out with four wheels in his wagon, the damage had been done as he returned to the track way down in 14th

The news for Hamilton was not much better as, having burned excess petrol to stay in touch with the Red Bull, the 2008 world champion was told to save fuel. The lack of pace made him a sitting duck to Vettel who regained second place into the first turn at the start of lap 39.

In danger of being passed by Rosberg, Hamilton dived into the pits for a fourth and final time. The move kept him just ahead of his team-mate.

The final stops also set up a titanic struggle between Webber and Vettel for first place. Having pitted one lap later than Vettel, Webber returned to the track a whisker ahead of his team-mate.

A superb battle royale of wheel-to-wheel racing ensued as Hamilton and Rosberg briefly exchanged places further down the track.

Blow: Jenson Button was forced to retire his McLaren on the penultimate lap

Hamilton had far more to worry about form Rosberg to maintain third place as the chequered flag drew ever closer, the German less than a second behind and in DRS range.

Like Vettel, Rosberg came onto the team radio to state: ‘I am so much faster, let me get past.’ ‘Negative’ was the response from Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn.

Back on to the radio came Rosberg: ‘Tell him to speed up a bit, he’s too slow.’ Brawn replied tersely: ‘Please drop back a bit Nico, there is a big gap behind and I want to bring both these cars home.’

The order was accepted as Vettel crossed the line to win accompanied by the message he would have some explaining to do.

Brawn too was left with some explaining to do to a disgruntled Rosberg. ‘We’ll discuss the last bit later,’ said the boss. ‘Remember this one,’ replied his driver.

Thumbs up: Hamilton took the the podium for the first time with Mercedes

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Lewis Hamilton takes Nicole Scherzinger by the hand as she lands in Kuala Lumpur for Grand Prix

From Malaysia With Love! Lewis Hamilton takes Nicole Scherzinger by the hand as she lands in Kuala Lumpur for Grand Prix 

By LUCY BUCKLAND

PUBLISHED: 14:23, 22 March 2013 | UPDATED: 17:07, 22 March 2013

She may be a sizzling leading lady in her own career but Nicole Scherzinger knows when to take a backseat.

Also, it helps if when your boyfriend asks you support him at work, that he is a Formula 1 driver and is needed in sunny Malaysia.

And Nicole, 34, looked like she was more than happy to leave wet London to accompany her boyfriend to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, ahead of this weekend's Grand Prix.

Taking a backseat: Lewis Hamilton holds his girlfriend's hand as they leave the F1 practice ground in Malaysia

The former Pussycat Doll looked hot in her casual denim cuts offs, loose white T-shirt and a red basketball hat.

Walking hand-in-hand with her hunky lover Nicole showed off her incredibly toned legs and her gorgeous boyfriend.

Former X Factor judge Nicole kept her hair loose around her shoulders and with the humidy her locks looked slightly thicker.

Rock solid: After a brief split last year Nicole and Lewis seem stronger than ever

Happy: Nicole and Lewis grin as they spend some quality time together

She opted for some flat gladiator sandals and added some chunky gold bracelets to her look, along with a slick of red lipstick.

A muscly Lewis met his girl off a plane after tweeting he was excited for Nicole's arrival.

He looked like he had been working hard in sun as he was sporting a deep tan which was off-set with his bright white T-shirt.

Tweeting hours before her arrival, the Mercedes driver wrote: 'Whatsup? Am now working with my engineers, been an OK day. Hoping tomorrow will be better. Loved driving the car today, feels great.

Taking his hand: Nicole and Lewis stroll through the sunshine - Nicole wrapped a lumberjack shirt around her tiny waist while Lewis looked casual in jeans

Working out Lewis? The F1 driver looked bigger - perhaps he has been hitting the gym while his girlfriend was back in London

'Been a great day, can't wait to get in the car tomorrow. & my girl @NicoleScherzy arrives to come support me this weekend, can't wait.'

Lewis revealed he fears Mercedes lack the pace to fight for this year's Formula One world championship, but has not ruled out the prospect of at least one race win.

Hamilton's fifth-placed finish in Sunday's Australian Grand Prix was more than he had envisaged going into the season as Mercedes proved they had taken a considerable step forward from last year.

There was the suggestion they may yet have what it takes to challenge reigning champions Red Bull, winners in Melbourne in Lotus, and their long-time rivals Ferrari.

He has the key to her heart: Lewis and Nicole look perfectly in synch on their walk

Thanks for coming! Lewis later said he was taking his girl out for dinner for some Malaysian cuisine

With Hamilton admitting he did not extract the most from the car at Albert Park, the potential is there.

But as for a title challenge, not this year as Hamilton said: 'At the moment, in terms of pure performance we don't have the speed to compete for the world title.

'But I feel there is more in the car and if we set it up we can be quicker. Whether that means we can close the gap and get ahead of the others, who knows.

'I'm certainly thinking we could get one win, maybe more than one, but the other guys are going to make it as hard as they can that's for sure.'

City slickers: Nicole Scherzinger has been looking after Lewis's dog Roscoe out and about in London

For Hamilton, this weekend in Malaysia comes too soon for that dream of a victory to be realised.

Crucial for Hamilton's chances of strong points at least on Sunday will be the weather as torrential rain regularly strikes in the late afternoon given the heat and high humidity.

With FP2 affected slightly by some rain, that restricted Hamilton's running and his assessment of the car compared to his rivals.

Wearing his heart on his sleeve: The Formula One ace showed off a new sleeve of tattoos on his arm, and admitted his father didn't approve of his new body art

But he has concerns over the Mercedes' handling in the wet, as he discovered last weekend in Melbourne when conditions turned and he slid off at one point, hitting a wall.

'I was very uncomfortable with the car in the wet,' said Hamilton.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2297581/Malaysia-Grand-Prix-Lewis-Hamilton-takes-girl-Nicole-Scherzinger-hand-Kuala-Lumper.html#ixzz2OIlDGLYd
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