Mark Webber mainly to blame says Max Mosley

Max Mosley has added to the fallout from last weekend's clash between Red Bull's drivers at the Turkish Grand Prix by claiming Mark Webber must shoulder the bulk of the blame for the incident.

Sebastian Vettel attempted to pass team-mate Webber for the lead on the run down to the final series of corners at Istanbul Park on lap 40 of Sunday's race, but the pair made contact, putting Vettel out of the race and forcing Webber to pit for a new nose which dropped him to third at the chequered flag.

Red Bull yesterday attempted to draw a line under the incident by claiming both drivers were happy to shrug it off as a racing incident, but former FIA president Mosley has nevertheless had his say on the clash which has divided opinion among observers.

"It is always difficult to judge a situation in which decisions have got to be made in a split second based on television footage. In my opinion, though, I don't think that Sebastian Vettel should be given the blame for the collision," Mosley told German newspaper Die Welt.

"Vettel was clearly quicker than Webber at the time of the accident. He had every right and the task of overtaking Webber.

"It is clear to see that Vettel had overtaken just before the corner and at this very moment, Webber should have given his team-mate more room. In addition, he should have known that Vettel was on the extreme left of the track where grip was inadequate."

Post-race, attention quickly turned to the relative pace of the two cars in the laps before the accident, with lap analysis suggesting Webber was in 'fuel save' mode while Vettel was putting in fast laps having saved his engine earlier in the race.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner revealed Webber asked the team to advise Vettel to back off the lap before their collision, but that was not possible due to the close proximity of the McLarens of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.

Uncertainty remains over how Red Bull tried to manage the pace of their drivers over those crucial laps, but Mosley insists Vettel had every right to attempt the pass on his team-mate.

He said: "We could argue if Webber was not his team-mate, but since that is the case he should have respected the particular responsibility for his team and team-mate if in any doubt.

"Remember that both cars were going at almost 300km/h at this point and, irrespective of the risk that he had taken into account by not giving an inch, he could still have improved his race position, even against Vettel, at a later stage.

"The decisive aspect which speaks in favour of Vettel and against Webber is that one driver was quicker at the time and the other slower."

Mosley's comments came as Red Bull held clear-the-air talks between Webber, Vettel and senior team personnel at the team's HQ in Milton Keynes.

Speaking after the meeting, Vettel apologised to the team for Sunday's incident, although Webber tellingly declined the opportunity to do likewise.

"The team had got us into a great position and it wasn't good for them what happened - so I'm sorry for them that we lost the lead of the race," said Vettel.

"Mark and I are racers and we were racing. We are professionals and it won't change how we will work together going forward."

Webber added: "It's a shame for the team, as we lost a good opportunity to win the race. It's sport and these things can happen, but it shouldn't have done.

"I feel for everyone at Red Bull, at the factory and everyone involved. Seb and I will make sure it doesn't happen again and will continue to work openly together, no problem.

"We have talked enough on it now, it's done, we're looking ahead."

Webber - how things can change

Mark Webber must now be wondering which way to turn.

Just over two weeks ago Webber was on top of the Formula One world, crowned the unofficial king of Monaco following his victory around the principality's tight, twisty, often unforgiving streets.

His celebrations were appreciably exuberant as the win, his second in succession from lights to flag after a week earlier triumphing in Spain, resulted in him throwing himself into the harbour.

The 33-year-old paid a small price as a mouthful or two of what is hardly the cleanest water in the world led to a sore throat.

But it was worth it knowing he had joined the sport's cognoscenti who had previously taken the chequered flag at the most glamorous motor sport venue in the world.

Ahead of the Turkish Grand Prix there was talk of Webber signing a new deal with Red Bull Racing, a matter of simply "sorting out the paperwork" according to team principal Christian Horner.

That was then, but what now after - to use his own words - "a disaster" of a race around Istanbul Park on Sunday after which the prevalent feeling was that he was being made the scapegoat?

A near-certain one-two was wrecked on lap 40 of the 58-lap race following a passing move by team-mate Sebastian Vettel that ended with the 22-year-old spinning into retirement and Webber requiring a new front wing.

Vettel's dismissive wave of the hand towards Webber as he trundled in front of the German, combined with the twirl of his right index finger around his temple to indicate the Australian was crazy was a clear indication as to who he felt was in the wrong.

Replays and on-board footage showed Vettel turn into Webber such was his desire to get off the dirty line as they powered into Turn 12 at over 180mph, mistakenly believing he would move over, only to horrifyingly discover he had no intention of giving an inch.

Television commentator Martin Brundle, after viewing the evidence, insisted the accident was "100%" of Vettel's own making.

In the post-race inquest there were recriminations, accusations and claims, with Vettel throwing the first verbal punch, stating Webber should have given him room.

In response, Webber was guarded, surprisingly so as he is a typical Aussie who has previously had no trouble in pointing an accusing finger when the occasion has merited.

Instead, Webber, adamant he was not responsible, urged journalists to "dig a little deeper", the inference obvious that something untoward had taken place.

And so the digging began, initially with Helmut Marko, Red Bull's motor sport advisor and right-hand man to owner Dietrich Mateschitz who was clear in his own mind Webber was at fault.

Marko's stone-faced, unequivocal verdict was delivered just moments after he had watched replays of the incident on television.

Then came Horner, and here is where the story gets interesting as you would expect the man in charge to be in possession of the full facts given the data and telemetry at his disposal on the pit wall.

As Horner was grilled, with at least 30 dictaphones thrust towards his face from all directions, he initially suggested Webber's prime tyres were perhaps fading at that stage.

Then Horner, whilst accusing Vettel of pulling over too early, also claimed his two drivers did not give each other room as they were too far over to the left of the track.

Webber, though, had merely held the middle ground down the long straight, as he was entitled to do, not deviating once.

Asked specifically if Webber had been told to turn down his engine, Horner replied: "Absolutely not. They were both on the same engine mode."

Strange then that an hour later, in the almost immediate post-race debrief that Horner should state Webber "had changed down into a fuel-saving mode," and he had "put Sebastian on the dirty side."

Formula One loves nothing more than a good conspiracy theory, and the one doing the rounds on Sunday centred on a potential Anglo-Austrian divide within the team, with the obvious bias towards the latter nation, and in turn towards young German Vettel.

As Vettel is viewed as the golden boy in waiting, such a notion is hardly beyond the realms of fantasy, and although it was vehemently refuted by Horner, there will have been a seed of doubt planted in Webber's mind.

The team can hold all the clear-the-air talks they want, as they have vowed to do, but no matter the outcome, and for all their words of equality, Webber may struggle to block out thoughts of favouritism towards Vettel.

If so, the question then is: will he stay or will he go?

Raikkonen linked with F1 return

With signs of discontent in the Red Bull camp, former world champion Kimi Raikkonen has once again been linked with a move back to Formula One.

Raikkonen is currently taking part in the World Rally Championship for the Red Bull-backed Citroen team but even before the rally season started he was linked with a move back to Formula One as a replacement for Mark Webber.

While neither Red Bull nor Raikkonen have ruled out the possibility of forming a partnership in F1, team principal Christian Horner recently remarked that he did not think the Finn was looking to return to F1 yet.

"Kimi has committed himself to rallying and he seems to be enjoying that environment," Horner told The Guardian.

However, following the Milton Keynes-based outfit's failure to support Webber after his much publicised coming together with team-mate Sebastian Vettel, like clockwork Raikkonen has once again been suggested as a replacement for Webber should he decided to leave the team.

When contacted regarding his client's future, Raikkonen's manager Steve Robertson was non-committal.

"We have not had any discussions in any direction for next season," he told Turun Sanomat

"There will be a time when Kimi will think about what he wants to do."

Asked whether Raikkonen could return to F1, Robertson replied: "Never say never."

Hamilton and Button will keep it professional

Lewis Hamilton is convinced he and McLaren team-mate Jenson Button will never become embroiled in an on-track furore like the one that has led to a potential divide within the Red Bull Racing camp.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner is now faced with picking up the pieces following Sunday's Turkish Grand Prix in which Sebastian Vettel collided with team-mate Mark Webber.

The shunt that sent Vettel into retirement cost the team 28 points and their lead of the constructors' championship as they now trail McLaren by a point as Hamilton led a one-two with Jenson Button.

The British duo, though, were almost involved in their own coming together 10 laps after Vettel turned into Webber, who had been on course for a third consecutive win, only to trail home third.

Although Button temporarily grabbed the lead off Hamilton as they diced side by side through Turns 12, 13 and 14, he soon gave it up for good to the 25-year-old at Turn One.

It was hair-raising stuff for all within McLaren, and perhaps a sign of things to come should the title fight become even hotter as the season progresses.

But Hamilton is adamant it will never descend into them sending one another off the circuit.

"It won't happen with me and Jenson," insisted Hamilton, speaking to Press Association Sport.

"We're both world champions, we're both professionals, and we both have a huge amount of respect for each other.

"We want to finish the race, we do both want to win, but not in an aggressive manner.

"For sure you want to be ahead, so if you finish second you're not the happiest, but he is a very supportive team-mate, he is doing a solid job, and I know when I win he is happy for me and vice versa.

"We had a great battle out there, he wasn't aggressive, he wasn't silly, he didn't make any stupid mistakes, and that's why it was a good fight.

"So I have no doubts the rest of the year will be the same."

There appeared to be a degree of friction between them immediately after the race, with Hamilton perhaps wondering how Button had made a move when they had both been told to turn down their engine to save fuel.

Yet the bonhomie later returned as they were united for the celebratory team photo that always follows a victory.

And as Hamilton departed the McLaren brand centre with Pussycat Doll girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger, he gave Button's dad John a firm hug.

"He's been nothing but a positive energy on the team, polite to me and he is a great bloke to get on with," added Hamilton on Button.

"We get on well, we work well together on and off the circuit, and I feel it's great to have a team-mate supporting me in the races as well.

"He was right there behind me helping me fight with the Red Bulls."

Redbull inquest inconclusive

Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel both blamed each other for the accident that robbed the team of a Turkish Grand Prix one-two.

Vettel's attempted pass up the inside of Webber on lap 40 of the 58-lap race culminated in a collision from which the 22-year-old German spun into retirement.

Forced off the track, Webber dropped to third behind McLaren duo Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, having enough in hand over the chasing pack to pit for a replacement front wing.

But claiming just 15 points when 43 were there for the taking had team principal Christian Horner seething with frustration after the race.

In assessing the damage caused, neither driver gave any ground, mirroring what had unfolded at the Istanbul Park circuit.

"Seb had big top-speed advantage and went down the inside, we went side-by-side and then it looked like he turned pretty quick right and we made contact," said Webber.

"I wasn't at all expecting that at that point, and that's why it happened so fast and there was contact.

"Of course, in Seb's car it obviously feels very bad for him that I've turned left into him.

"But I'm pretty confident there was some drift from his way and then it was a disaster."

After spinning to a halt off track, and as Webber drove past in front, Vettel raised a hand towards the 33-year-old as if to say 'what did you do that for?'

A second indicator as to Vettel's position followed after climbing out of his stricken car as he twice twirled his right index finger around by his temple, suggesting what had happened was crazy.

In a post-race media scrum, Vettel stormed: "I'm not in the happiest of moods.

"I was on the inside going into the corner. I was there, ahead and focusing on the braking point and then we touched.

"Mark's car hit my rear right wheel and I went off. As far as I'm concerned I was not over eager. I felt I was a little bit faster.

"What happened was very silly among team-mates. As a team-mate you should give each other some room."

As for Horner, he blamed both his drivers - Webber for not giving Vettel space, and the German for attempting to cut across the Australian.

Offering his explanation after the post-race debrief, Horner said: "I think Mark has put Sebastian on the dirty side, giving him just enough room, but Sebastian has come across quite aggressively.

"He was quite a long way down the side, but came across too early, so it's very, very frustrating.

"We've seen the drivers racing each other previously and they are usually very, very good at giving each other room. But here, for whatever reason, that didn't happen.

"The frustrating thing is we have given away 28 points today as it should have been a one-two.

"From a team point of view it doesn't matter which way around they are, the priority is to finish one-two and that is exactly what we should have done."