Vettel pitted first, in the last round of stops, which is usually an advantage. Maybe Webber had first choice and decided to stay out, we don't know, but it looked like Webber than had to pit at short notice the next lap to cover his team mate; the team had to rush out into the pits. So it makes you wonder if that was engineered to get Vettel ahead; it certainly was the reason they got so close. It's exactly what happened with Alonso and Massa last week.

Brundle made a very insightful comment in that 2012 review show about Schumacher. He said that if Schumacher had never done the things that made people disklike him; he'd never run into Damon Hill, or Villeneuve, or deliberately parked at Monaco to block Alonso's lap, or had never demanded his team mates act as number 2 and move over, he'd have won a couple of fewer races, probably one less championship, but would have still been the most successful driver of all time and rather than being seen as a bit of a villan, would be loved as one of the sport's greats.

Vettel seems to be on very much the same path. And you have to wonder, given that F1 is basically a big marketing machine for the sponsors, how much Red Bull want to be associated with cheating, dishonesty and general un-sportsmanlike behaviour as they increasingly are.

 

The statistics don't tell the full story though, you take that aspect of his character out of the equation, and would you still be left with a winner? Or would the team just have two Mark Webber's finishing second or third every year.


You mean Redbull the drink of choice for those too busy to sleep? The kind of people who admire a win at all cost attitude? Probably stands them quite well

 

so true. Was only thinking the same earlier

 

If sponsors money were not at stake (which of course it is, very much so), then as team boss, I would take his drive away for the next race and let the 3rd driver have a bash.

Sadly, RBR want to win the driver and constructors championship as it is worth SO much money to them, they would not even entertain this. It's a shame as it would bring some form of retribution into the sport and consequence to actions.

Had he ignored similar order from the race stewards, ie decided not to take a stop and go penalty, or overtaken under red flags, the FIA would dish out a decent penalty, just look at Grosjean last year.

As much as I'd love to see it happen, we've as much chance of that as meeting Ron's signature friend in the shower.

 

Away from Red Bull for a second, but is anyone else also getting mightily hacked off with the way McLaren seem unable to put together a decent pit stop. There's no consistency there at all. One race they break a world record, the next they royally screw up. I'm sure Button would rather take 3, 3.5 or 4 second stops and know he can get back out on track than the mish-mash of one good/one bad stop he gets currently.

I mean, WTF did they release Button with one wheel not attached.

There would be stern words (and possible heads rolling) if that were my team.

 

If you saw the footage the guy still had the gun on the nut as Button moved off. Must be a pretty tough job being the "lollipop man" - though presumably he now just has a button to press.

They didn't say the time on TV, but that last stop of Vettel's was astonishingly fast. I wouldn't be surprised if that breaks the record.

 

Perhaps this is too simple : they either have team orders or they don't. Vettel is a bright enough spark, and it would seem he knew exactly what he was doing. Ban him.
* I'll get me coat *

 

You would especially think they'd calm down the pit stops given their lack of competitiveness, saving a second on pit stops when the car is a second off the pace is a stupid risk, get it right and bring the cars home consistently with some points until they fix the performance.

 

John Watson says Red Bull should suspend Vettel for one race as punishment:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/21922429

Who thinks that's likely to happen?

 

Hmmm, let me think about thatNO

How Webber handles this will be the most interesting aspect.

It's pretty clear (as Webber himself said) that Vettel is Helmet and Matey-shitz' special boy (and why not given the success he's had thanks to their huge investment), so he either knuckles down, or gets replaced mid-season. He'll probably retire at the end of this season anyway.

It'd be nice if he were able to ruin another WC for Vettel towards the end, but I suspect it'll all be over pretty early this year.