Horner Talking with Drivers Over Team Orders

Things are not very comfortable within Red BullRed BullAustria, 2004 > present12 models
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at the moment. Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber have not had the most trusting relationship since at least the 2010 Turkish Grand Prix when Vettel hit Webber to cause him to finish third instead of first. Their relationship became even worse following the Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday when Vettel was specifically told to hold position, and he ignored the order. 

Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner is extremely unhappy with the situation because it is another example of Vettel ignoring team orders. In previous races, he has ignored radio orders to slow down and stop setting fast laps while in a comfortable lead. 

According to Horner, close racing ruins tires. The team had had problems with tire wear for the entire weekend. By racing for no reason with his teammate, Vettel and Webber put the team in a position where it could have run out of tires. 

"He put his interest beyond what the team's position was. He was focused on those seven points difference between second and first place - which was wrong. He has accepted it was wrong," said Horner. 

Horner sat down with both drivers following the race to discuss the situation. 

"He and I have had a discussion already and, taking the emotion out of it with time to reflect, we will have a discussion before the next race," said Horner. 

Vettel had not given a clear explanation of what happened. He said after the race that the pass was deliberate, but he did not mean to violate orders. 

"I know that right now, obviously, having just come out of the car, it’s probably difficult to explain everything, but the pass was deliberate. Obviously I wanted to pass him, you could see that, otherwise you wouldn’t even try, but I didn’t mean to ignore the strategy or the call. I made a mistake, simply,” said Vettel.

Source: Autosport (2), Speed