In an interview published in the latest issue of Red Bull's in-house magazine, The Red Bulletin, Dr. Helmut Marko, a former Formula 1 driver and today's motorsport advisor at Red Bull, said he is not impressed with Ferrari's politics.
Reviewing the championship battle that involved Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, Marko suggested that the Spaniard got distracted by off-track aspects while Vettel focused solely on driving.
"Sebastian's driving was virtually flawless," said Marko.
"But he is a phenomenon: it is always like that. I don't know how he does it, but to keep doing it cannot be a coincidence. Fernando Alonso, for example, is busy with politics and funny comments. Vettel ignores it all; he doesn't read the newspapers, or the internet,” Marko explained.
The Austrian claimed that Ferrari founder, Enzo Ferrari, would have been harder on his team in defeat than Alonso and current directors.
"Alonso is constantly involved in politics. I believe we saw the stress he was under towards the end of the season. Saying things like, 'I'm competing against [Lewis] Hamilton, not Vettel,' and 'I'm up against [Adrian] Newey.' Psychological skirmishes. We said, 'Just ignore him.'"
"Then the comment of the great Jackie Stewart, that Vettel must go to another team to prove himself. This is said by someone who scored all his greatest successes in just one team, Tyrrell. I can't take it seriously."
Dr. Marko also talked about Red Bull Racing's other driver, Mark Webber, saying he has doubts that the Australian has what it takes to cope with the intense pressures of a Formula 1 championship fight.
"It seems to me that Webber has on average two races per year where he is unbeatable, but he can't maintain this form throughout the year," Marko added.
"And as soon as his prospects start to look good in the world championship, he has a little trouble with the pressure that this creates. In comparison with Seb's [Vettel's] rising form, it seems to me that Mark's form somehow flattens out. Then, if some technical mishap occurs, like with the alternator for example, he falls relatively easily into a downward spiral,” Marko declared.
Marko explained that for much of his career, Webber was never in a top team, but in 2007 Red Bull Racing put him in a car that could win races.
“Suddenly, along comes this young kid [Vettel] and he snatches the booty from under Mark's nose. Psychologically it's not easy, of course; this would gnaw away at anyone's confidence. It's more than understandable,” Dr. Marko concluded.
As a Red Bull driver, Webber contested 110 Grands Prix and scored 9 wins. In comparison, when driving for the same team,Vettel contested 75 F1 races and collected 25 victories.
Reviewing the championship battle that involved Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, Marko suggested that the Spaniard got distracted by off-track aspects while Vettel focused solely on driving.
"Sebastian's driving was virtually flawless," said Marko.
"But he is a phenomenon: it is always like that. I don't know how he does it, but to keep doing it cannot be a coincidence. Fernando Alonso, for example, is busy with politics and funny comments. Vettel ignores it all; he doesn't read the newspapers, or the internet,” Marko explained.
The Austrian claimed that Ferrari founder, Enzo Ferrari, would have been harder on his team in defeat than Alonso and current directors.
"Alonso is constantly involved in politics. I believe we saw the stress he was under towards the end of the season. Saying things like, 'I'm competing against [Lewis] Hamilton, not Vettel,' and 'I'm up against [Adrian] Newey.' Psychological skirmishes. We said, 'Just ignore him.'"
"Then the comment of the great Jackie Stewart, that Vettel must go to another team to prove himself. This is said by someone who scored all his greatest successes in just one team, Tyrrell. I can't take it seriously."
 |
| Mark Webber and Dr Helmut Marko in Spain. (Photo: Red Bull Racing) |
Dr. Marko also talked about Red Bull Racing's other driver, Mark Webber, saying he has doubts that the Australian has what it takes to cope with the intense pressures of a Formula 1 championship fight.
"It seems to me that Webber has on average two races per year where he is unbeatable, but he can't maintain this form throughout the year," Marko added.
"And as soon as his prospects start to look good in the world championship, he has a little trouble with the pressure that this creates. In comparison with Seb's [Vettel's] rising form, it seems to me that Mark's form somehow flattens out. Then, if some technical mishap occurs, like with the alternator for example, he falls relatively easily into a downward spiral,” Marko declared.
Marko explained that for much of his career, Webber was never in a top team, but in 2007 Red Bull Racing put him in a car that could win races.
“Suddenly, along comes this young kid [Vettel] and he snatches the booty from under Mark's nose. Psychologically it's not easy, of course; this would gnaw away at anyone's confidence. It's more than understandable,” Dr. Marko concluded.
As a Red Bull driver, Webber contested 110 Grands Prix and scored 9 wins. In comparison, when driving for the same team,Vettel contested 75 F1 races and collected 25 victories.