Malaysian Grand Prix flashback- Vettel’s betrayal

Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber were never the best of friends, but the events of 24^th March 2013 almost sparked a civil war inside Red Bull.

Webber, the popular Aussie, strongly believed that the team favoured Vettel, the team’s prodigal son, throughout their five-year partnership.

Going back to 2010, when they collided dramatically in their fight for the lead in the Turkish Grand Prix, their relationship was frosty at best. Vettel retired, Webber finished third. Both men were blamed.

Subsequent incidents only added to the bad blood between them. Vettel’s camp believed that Webber deliberately tried to sabotage his world title bid in 2012, and the German’s anger spilled over into 2013.

Start of 2013 Malaysian F1 GP

In Malaysia, Webber had the beating of his younger team-mate. He took the lead after the first round of pitstops and looked destined to stay there to the end when he emerged from his final stop in the lead.

However, Vettel is not someone who enjoys finishing second, especially to a driver he feels so passionately about beating. The German closed the gap to Webber, and it was clear that he wasn’t falling in line with the team’s wish.

Red Bull’s rule during their period of success was to allow their drivers to race each other until the final stops. From there, they would turn their engines down and accept the result. Down the radio, they told their drivers the, now famous, words: “Multi-21”.

Webber, in car number two, was ahead of Vettel in car number one and the team were telling their men that is how it would finish.

Webber still before Vettel (2013)

Vettel though, had other things on his mind. Webber’s lead was slender after the first stop, and he attacked in earnest. Down the home straight he was right behind his team-mate, and dived down the inside, nearly hitting the wall in the process.

Webber held him off, but Vettel attacked again down the next straight and pulled off the move down the outside.

After the race, Red Bull sat forlorn in their pit box. They told Vettel they would “repercussions”.

Webber later said: "After the last stop the team told me the race was over and we turned the engines down and go to the end. The team made their decision. Seb made his own decision and he will have protection as usual."

Vettel went on to win his fourth world title, while Webber waved goodbye at the end of the year. He didn’t win a race in his final season. He should have won in Malaysia, but Vettel got in his way.

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