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Red Bull Finally Admit Webber Isn't to Blame for Vettel Crash

Red Bull Racing finally admitted, although they didn't exactly spell it for the media, that Mark Webber cannot be held responsible for the incident that occurred between him and teammate Sebastian Vettel in the Turkish Grand Prix.

Following the clash between the two, Vettel had to retire from the race and Webber lost the chance to record his 3rd straight win of the season, something that sparked plenty of reactions inside the Red Bull garage. Although initially suggesting Webber should have given Vettel some room in his overtaking maneuver, team principal Christian Horner changed his view a little pit after reviewing all the facts.

Ultimately we win as a team and we lose as a team and on Sunday we lost as a team, as a result of our two drivers having an incident. Having looked at all the information it's clear that it was a racing accident that shouldn't have happened between two team mates,” said Webber via a statement.

On lap 38 and 39, Sebastian's pace picked up and he closed right up to the back of Mark while under considerable pressure from Hamilton behind. After a very strong run through Turn 9, Sebastian got a run and strong tow and moved to the left to pass Mark.”

“Mark held the inside line and adopted a defensive position, which he is entitled to do. When Sebastian was three quarters of the way past, he moved to the right.”

“As Sebastian moved to the right, Mark held his position and the ensuing result was contact that resulted in Sebastian retiring, Mark damaging the front-end of his car and the team losing a one two finish. Ultimately both drivers should have given each other more room.


Additionally, he played down recent reports that Red Bull's controversial stance in the matter – they immediately took Vettel's side after the incident – suggested the German is their preferred driver this season.

Both drivers, as has always been the case, will continue to be given equal treatment. The Turkish Grand Prix has been a costly lesson for both drivers and we are confident that this situation won't happen again. (...) The fact is that we not only have the fastest car, but also two of the best and fastest drivers.”

“We still have a long way to go this year until Abu Dhabi and whichever Red Bull Racing driver you're behind in the fight for the world championship, I hope we - and they - can count on your support,
” concluded Horner.
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