Press mocks Vettel's 'phantom' gearbox problem
Global Motorsport Media
The international press suspects Red Bull imposed team orders during the season ending Brazilian Grand Prix.
The team has already strongly denied the claims, but publications like Spain's Marca suspect Sebastian Vettel pulled over for Mark Webber because of a "phantom problem" with his gearbox.
"Webber gets the loyalty prize," said Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Agreed Corriere della Sera: "Vettel gave Webber the gift of the last crumbs after a huge feast and saved him a trip to the psychologist."
Spain's Diario Sport added: "Nobody believes Vettel really had a problem with the gearbox."
Austria's Der Standard said the team order "made sense", given Webber's mathematical chance of finishing the drivers' championship in second place.
Maybe they forget that team orders can now be issued freely
Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali is quoted as joking to La Stampa: "Maybe they forget that team orders can now be issued freely."
Agreed Fernando Alonso: "I don't care, except to say that they were bothered with certain behaviours when we did them."
Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, however, reported that Vettel personally watched when his gearbox was taken apart after the race and confirmed that "there was almost no oil left in it".
Share Or Save This Story
Oscar Piastri shares how relationship with Mark Webber has evolved since F1 debut
Mark Webber’s Oscar Piastri role change was inevitable, says David Coulthard
What F1 history tells us about three-way title deciders
F1 Dutch GP: Friday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari called out by former F1 driver for "pretty sloppy" errors
Why Charles Leclerc’s battle of the brakes has left him trailing Lewis Hamilton
Max Verstappen is yet to reach his peak, says former F1 team boss
Karun Chandhok "surprised" by length of Max Verstappen's Red Bull contract
John Hunter Nemechek switches to No. 40 for special anniversary
F1 Dutch GP: Friday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
Why the Dutch GP is ending despite F1 wanting Zandvoort to stay
What Max Verstappen’s big deal means for his future, Red Bull and F1
Grading the class of F1 2026 so far
Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon give James Vowles a second chance at Williams
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments