Sebastian Vettel says age is not an issue for Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber
World Champion sure Australian will still be competitive
By William Esler. Last Updated: March 15, 2013 8:04am
Sky Bet
-
Formula 1 Betting
Sebastian Vettel insists team-mate Mark Webber still has the pace to compete at the front despite the Aussie now being the oldest man on the grid.
The 36-year-old is preparing for his 12th season in Formula 1 and his seventh with Red Bull. His current contract expires at the end of the current campaign after signing a one-year extension following his victory at the 2012 British Grand Prix.
There has been speculation Red Bull will look to replace Webber with one of their young chargers at Toro Rosso - Daniel Ricciardo or Jean-Eric Vergne - but the triple World Champion is sure Webber will still challenge at the sharp end of the grid.
"Age is just a number and I am also getting older - there is nothing I can change about that," the German told Sky Sports News.
"I think Mark is still fit enough and quick enough and fast enough to manage the task that is coming up for a driver.
"So personally I do not think it is related to age and as a person I think we have been together as a team for many years now and I think we have quite a common understanding of the car and a common direction we like to develop in.
"So it seemed to work well in previous years, so why not another one."
Mark Webber
Sebastian Vettel
