Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz has insisted that there is no favouritism inside his Formula One team.
Red Bull owner says preferring one driver is not in his "philosophy"
Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz has insisted that there is no favouritism inside his Formula One team.
Controversy ignited over the team's policies during the British Grand Prix weekend after they took a new front wing design from Mark Webber's car and handed it to Sebastian Vettel.
This sparked allegations of favouritism, with Webber making his dissatisfaction at the decision clear after winning the Silverstone race on Sunday.
But subsequent talks appear to have calmed the atmosphere in the camp, while Webber back-tracked over his comment that his victory was "not bad for a number two driver".
And now Mateschitz has claimed that he has never approached motor racing with the idea that one of his drivers should be given preferential treatment.
"This philosophy is not keeping with my understanding of racing," he told Austrian newspaper
Kleine Zeitung
Champion
"You cannot just programme a champion. Our two drivers know that a) they have to beat each other, and b) they still need each other to take away as many points as possible from the competition.
"We do not have a number one and a number two driver. Both drivers have cars to exactly the same standard."
Businessman Mateschitz says that he was not consulted over the Silverstone decision, but is still confident his drivers are receiving parity.
He added: "If you ask me today who will be champion, I say one of our two drivers. But the pits must not interfere, because then the problems begin in earnest.
"Both drivers have cars to exactly the same standard. The problem with the new wing at Silverstone was the first exception."
Mateschitz, a co-founder of the energy drinks giant, also quashed any suggestions that his drivers' comments would be restricted by the team in order to avoid another controversy.
"Such a thing would not be our style. Everyone can tell the truth - which is one of the highest virtues of Red Bull," he said.
