Vettel vs Webber
Four titles, one garage, and a friendship shattered by the relentless pursuit of glory.
Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber’s tenure at Red Bull Racing remains one of F1’s most volatile internal conflicts. Spanning from their 2009 arrival through four consecutive Constructors' Championships, the dynamic shifted from mutual reliance to a tense struggle for hierarchy within the garage. While they secured unprecedented success together, their on-track battles frequently overshadowed the team's dominance, creating an atmosphere of suspicion that captivated fans globally.
- Team Affiliation
- Red Bull Racing
- Period Active Together
- 2009–2013
- Championships Won Together
- 4 (Constructors)
- Vettel Drivers' Championships
- 4
- Webber Podiums with Red Bull
- 42
Lore & Background
In 2009, Red Bull paired the seasoned Australian veteran Mark Webber with Sebastian Vettel, a young driver who had already stunned the grid by securing pole at Monza for Toro Rosso. Initially, they operated as equal partners, dismantling the competition to establish Red Bull's dominance. However, the dynamic shifted irrevocably in 2010 as Vettel’s consistency secured him the Drivers' Championship over Webber. Tensions escalated when team strategy prioritized the German, notably at Abu Dhabi that year. The friction reached its breaking point during the 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix, where Vettel ignored explicit 'Multi 21' orders to hold position behind Webber. This act of defiance shattered their collaboration, leaving a scar that defined their remaining time together before Webber’s departure.
In Their Own Story
The air inside the Red Bull garage at Sepang was thick with humidity and unspoken words. The 'Multi 21' instruction crackled over the radio, a simple command for Vettel to hold position behind his teammate. But in the cockpit of the RB9, Sebastian's grip tightened on the steering wheel. He saw Mark ahead, the Australian pushing the limits on worn tires, desperate to protect his lead. With a surge of power that defied the team's hierarchy, Sebastian pulled alongside and swept past, leaving Mark staring at the rear wing he was supposed to follow. The silence in the pit lane when they returned was louder than the roar of the V8 engines; it was the sound of a partnership breaking under the weight of ambition.
Reader's Guide
The friction originated in the subtle shift of hierarchy during Red Bull's peak years. What began as a partnership of equals in 2009 hardened into a rivalry by 2010 when Vettel claimed his first title at Webber's expense. The conflict concluded with the Malaysian incident in 2013, effectively ending their time on the grid together.
Did You Know?
- Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel were teammates for five seasons (2009-2013), winning four consecutive Constructors' Championships together.
- The 'Multi 21' incident in Malaysia 2013 is often cited as the moment the team dynamic irreparably fractured, with Vettel explicitly ignoring instructions to hold position.
- Despite their on-track animosity, both drivers acknowledged that their intense competition pushed Red Bull Racing to achieve a level of dominance rarely seen in F1 history.
- Webber retired from Formula 1 at the end of 2013, while Vettel continued with the team until the end of 2014 before moving to Ferrari.