Skip to content

Sebastian Vettel praises retiring Mark Webber's contribution to his & Red Bull glory

Vettel says Aussie's exit "a loss for the team, a loss for myself"

Image: Sebastian Vettel: Says Webber has always challenged him

Sebastian Vettel has put his infamously frosty relationship with Mark Webber aside to pay tribute to his retiring team-mate and admitted: "I have learned a lot from him".

Although the prospect of Vettel ceding position to Webber on Sunday appears unlikely, Red Bull are once again favourites to be running first and second on the road in the 71-lap race with the RB9, in the German's hands at least, having been unbeaten since July. The World Champion's hopes of achieving a ninth straight win could be complicated, however, by the first proper wet race of the season with the threat of rain looming large over Sao Paulo from Friday onwards. Although he has never actually won in the wet since his first two GP wins for Toro Rosso and Red Bull respectively in 2008-2009, Vettel is typically unfazed about the idea of a more unpredictable race. "It doesn't matter, we have enough rain tyres!" the German joked. "Obviously we didn't have to use them the last couple of race so whatever happens we are all ready. If it rains it obviously makes it a little bit more chaotic but equally it gives you more chances to do something that stands out and do better than the rest."

Around Sky