Matechitz-"We don't manipulate things like Ferrari do."

[ecapox]

So with the championship running down to the wire in Abu Dhabi, his team winning the WCC, and arguably failing to clinch both titles for Redbull because of a lack of backing one driver, he has now resorted to this.

'We don't manipulate things like Ferrari do' - Mateschitz

Red Bull Red Bull co-owner Dietrich Mateschitz would rather lose the drivers' title to Fernando Alonso and Ferrari than force team orders on his drivers.

If Sebastian Vettel finishes ahead of Mark Webber at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix next weekend, Alonso will only have to finish fourth to seal the title. However, team principal Christian Horner has already made clear that Vettel and Webber will be free to race and make their own decisions as to whether they help each other out in Abu Dhabi.

"Let the two drivers race and whatever will be will be," Mateschitz told Austrian paper Kliene Zeitung. "If Alonso wins we will have been unlucky.

"I predict a Hollywood ending, with the worst case scenario that we don't become champion but if that's the case, we'll do it next year. Our philosophy stays the same because this is a sport and it must remain a sport."

At the German Grand Prix, Felipe Massa made way for Ferrari team-mate Alonso, giving him seven crucial extra points in the championship. But Mateschitz has made clear that his team will not do the same.

"We don't manipulate things like Ferrari do," he added. "The whole world condemned them after what they did in Hockenheim. But we have turned out to look like idiots because we have not acted in this way."

"We have never even thought about it as long as both our drivers remain in the hunt for the championship. So a second place under correct circumstances might be better than a win on grounds of orders and confirmations."

Personally, i think this is posturing because of what has happened this season between his two drivers as well as what MAY happen in Abu Dhabi. I cannot believe that both drivers would agree with his statements. In my opinion, Mark Webber hasnt already clinched the WDC because of them keeping this "open" strategy.

[mach11]

IMHO....

I guess vettel might report some engine trouble at the start of the weekend... or will not be having the best setup for the track and will qualify 2nd...

there are ways by which the result can be manipulated not just only by team orders...

But if the above seems to be true then I guess webber would have to drive the best race of his career this weekend.....

[netoperek]

I've said it before and i'll say it again. In my opinion there was no equal threatment ever at RB. Their #1 and #2 labels on drivers are almost as obvious as in Ferrari. True, they've done their homework and are hiding it quite nicely, but everyone knows they're doing all they can to help Vettel. Wing-gate was obvious, but in many case i got a feeling they silently got MW out of SV way - like sudden "overheating" in brasil, when WB was closing to SV and temps going down again when FA was getting equal or better times than MW. Those are not the facts, just suspicions but still looks quite fishy ;] Maybe they just learned their lesson from Turkey and simply don't want to both their drivers to get close enough for Vettel to increase his demolishion derby frag-count

[gibells]

I voted "Good for Them" on the proviso that it's true. That it wouldn't happen if the situation was reversed.

I was appalled by Alonso & Massa's shenanigans in Germany, and therefore to be true and not hypocritical, I must not allow myself to be swayed into thinking team orders are OK when it suits my preferences. It's too easy to fall into that kind of thinking when everyone around has another opinion. I will hold onto my belief in the effort to show that battles are won on merit, not underhanded. That maybe one day everyone will feel the same way.

So as it stands I say WELL DONE Red Bull. Let it be so.

[Belatti]

I agree with all that Dieter said and voted for the "Matechitz" is crazy option. They are both correct.

He shows that a business can be driven by other philophy rather than triumphalism. And that is crazy because it goes against the standards of all the other multinacional corporations.

[ecapox]

Wait a minute...why arent we arguing? Im kidding.

In all honesty, i think that they should have gotten behind Webber a long time ago. If they did he would already have been WDC. I think it is a little hypocritical of Mateschitz to say they do not employ team orders. They dont employ team orders because the guy they want to win, isnt winning (Vettel).

I am of the belief that this statement was made because it is beneficial to say it now. Earlier in the year it sure looked like team orders were well on their way.

[Richard]

It's a team sport, both should start as equals (vote for option 1), but you get to a point in the season where it makes sense for one team member to help the other to win the prize (option 2).

I also picked crazy because he's either being honest (hence deluded) or he's putting up a crazy Ecclestone smoke screen. The final factor for crazy is because his own team appeared to not understand him at various times this sesason

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

No way would Red Bull be making these noises if Vettel and Webbers Championship positions were reversed.
To condemn Ferrari the way he did is disrespectful, given how clearly the heirarchy favour Vettel.

[zeph]

Mateschitz is not crazy, but that's how I vote anyway.

They were openly Vettel's team at the start of the season. Nobody was beating around the bush. Than Webber had to go and beat the Cuddle Kid in several races. Then the infamous Turkey incident, Wing-gate and now we're talking equality?

Give me a break.

[Giblet]

It's odd in F1, as it is a 'team sport', but in what other structured teams are players on the same team vying against each other for the ultimate prize in the sport?

Sure, maybe track and field in the Olympics, but it's not like one Canadian distance runner can punt another off the track and cruise home to a victory.

It's an odd situation that as far as I know is not replicated in any other sport or competition.

At the end of the day, of course both drivers are 'team players', but few sports are as inbred as F1 with drivers ready to jump ship to another team half season.

Vettel has made his love of Red Bull quite obvious. He seems to take much pride in his team, and since he has no professional manager, when he tells a boss like Matechitz that he is there full on, it is more believable than when Willi Weber says it.

And Zeph, how about a touch of respect for the people in the sport. Grade school name calling really mutes the intelligence that could be in your post.

[Richard]

Giblet - How about sailing? Perversely the leader and second placed boat often end up at the back, while the supporting team members go for the win.

[JMN]

The incidents in sailing are somewhat different though. What you usually see is the leader going into matchrace mode with the runner-up in the final race of a regata, but only if the boat in the 3rd place posts no threat to the overall win. A Senna-Prost thing really, except in sailing it's well within the rules to do so. No coordination between boats are allowed however. I once attended a regatta for the Tornado class, where the russian boat occupying the overall 2nd place apparently had his fellow russian clear his lee-ward path during the start a couple of races in a row. A protest was submitted and both boats where disqualified. Furthermore communication during races is limited to protests in all olympic classes. Radiocommunication with outside sources is banned in pretty much everything but Volvo Ocean type races and Americas Cup.

In a way F1 DC suffers the same stigma as cycling. It's performed as a team sport, but rewards individual performance.

[RacingManiac]

No way would Red Bull be making these noises if Vettel and Webbers Championship positions were reversed.
To condemn Ferrari the way he did is disrespectful, given how clearly the heirarchy favour Vettel.

Ditto here, if RBR's favored son is leading I am pretty sure there will be team order. For now they are milking it for what its worth to get some publicity....

[Miguel]

I voted "He's crazy". Not because I really think so, but because it's probably unwise to state what you are going to do or not do less than a week before the most important race your two drivers have ever done.

As we say in Spanish "Never say you won't drink that water nor that priest isn't your father"

[Mr Alcatraz]

Just out of curiosity let me throw out a hypothetical query. Let's say Fred is in the closing stages of this Sunday’s race with enough of a lead to fall back one more position and still win the WDC. Maybe he's nursing a worn out lump. Maybe he is not. Somehow in some kind of impossible Dream of a drive here comes the Mad Bomber (Adrian Sutil) with either the Hulk or the Cello closing fast, but still have a substantial gap to make up say 3 seconds in three laps. Over the radio Stella ejaculates:
"Let that lunatic through" But Fred has already decided discretion is the greater part of valor and gives AS a wide berth, and finishes ahead of the Williams but behind the FI and ends up (for whatever reason) fighting to keep the Williams behind him. The outcome would have a profound effect on the Constructors order. Would this be considered a breach of any rule, as it has affected the outcome of the entire season?

BTW I chose option #4 in the poll:
I don't give a rat's @$$ what he has to say.