Webber - We must up the ante

Aussie says Red Bull must improve for Vettel

Last updated: 12th November 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Webber - We must up the ante

Webber: Step forward needed

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Mark Webber has said that both he and the Red Bull team will have to raise their games when Sebastian Vettel arrives next season.

The 21-year-old German arguably proved the revelation of 2008, scoring both his and Toro Rosso's first Formula One victory at the Italian Grand Prix in September.

By that stage, Vettel's potential had already been recognised with a promotion from the 'junior' Red Bull-backed team to the full works outfit as a replacement for the retiring David Coulthard.

Although both teams used ostensibly the same chassis this season, Toro Rosso ultimately eclipsed Red Bull thanks to the advantage their Ferrari engines gave them over the latter's Renault power.

Toro Rosso finished 10 points ahead of Red Bull in the Constructors' Championship, with Vettel finishing eighth in the Drivers' Championship.

According to Webber, the arrival of the young German means that all at Red Bull Racing will have to improve on what turned out to be a rather lacklustre season.

He added that, given Vettel's experience of driving what is effectively a Red Bull car, he can bring more to the team than any other newcomer might.

"There will be a lot of pressure on the team with him arriving, because it needs to be a step forward for him, so they need to give him at least what Toro Rosso gave him this year in terms of performance," the Australian told autosport.com.

"I think it is good for the team that they have someone who has been going quick in the same car in another team with Sebastian. It is nice to have that. I am always a big fan of having fresh ideas from other teams, whether it is a driver or an engineer. I think it is good. It can help sometimes."

Potential

Webber also praised Vettel's potential and predicted that their friendship will prosper, despite the competition that exists in F1 between team-mates.

"It is a pretty good driver line-up. He has gathered a lot of experience very quickly, partly because he is a gifted young guy," he added.

"The frightening thing with him is that he will get better. Vettel and myself hopefully will have a good relationship, which seems to be the case at the moment.

"Obviously when you race each other in the same team, the relationship can be a bit strained at times but we should be alright."

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