Webber: Vettel is not a great listener

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Published on 06 Dec 2019 17:14
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By: Fergal Walsh

Former grand prix driver Mark Webber says a big weakness of Sebastian Vettel is that he is not a great listener.

Webber partnered Vettel at Red Bull for five years before he retired from Formula 1 at the end of the 2013 season.

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Vettel then spent one more year at the energy drink squad before making the move to Ferrari, where five years later, he is still without a world championship at the Scuderia squad.

The German has made a series of on-track errors in 2018 and 2019, which has left Webber to conclude that Vettel needs professional help in order to return to form.

"I think this is definitely the biggest off-season of his career," Webber told Channel 4.

"It’s been his worst season [at Ferrari] and he’s got a big, big fight on his hands to come back next year. He’s a winner, a fighter, but a small chink in his armour is he's not a great listener.

"I think if he needs to seek some advice from people. This is uncharted waters for him because he is coming towards the end of his career.

"But he needs to seek all the different professional advice that he can from people who might have also been on this journey to understand how he can unlock that new phase of passion, energy, that drive to get going.

"He’s got three kids at home now, there are 22 races coming up next year. I don’t have kids but that will be a real challenge and some of the other guys don’t have that."

Vettel was beaten over the course of the season by Charles Leclerc, who joined the team in his second year of F1, having made his debut at Sauber in 2018.

MORE: Binotto: Lelcerc surprised everybody in Ferrari with 2019 performances | Leclerc didn't expect to outscore Vettel in maiden Ferrari year

ajpennypacker

Posts: 2,475

Nah... Plenty of precedent for drivers who started to suck before having children. Raikkonen being the main example. Seb clearly still has the speed, but just like with most of his years at Red Bull... He's a very fragile performer. When he makes a mistake it seems highly likely that he will make... [Read more]

2
Dec 7 2019 - 16:21

F1 News Sebastian Vettel Mark Webber Ferrari

Replies (4)

calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
I hear ya Webbo, but you still agreed with being the second driver. It's alright regretting it, but being so public about it doesn't look particularly beautiful.

That aside: I wish fewer drivers were willing to be placed as second drivers. It's boring, it's humiliating for that driver to bow down whenever the 1st driver gets a stiffy, and it's hardly sports.
- + 0
- Dec 6 2019 - 21:07
essaouira311

Posts: 158
"He’s got three kids at home now, there are 22 races coming up next year. I don’t have kids but that will be a real challenge and some of the other guys don’t have that."

THIS IS IT.
- + 0
- Dec 7 2019 - 00:00
- ajpennypacker
  
  Posts: 2,475
  Nah... Plenty of precedent for drivers who started to suck before having children. Raikkonen being the main example. Seb clearly still has the speed, but just like with most of his years at Red Bull... He's a very fragile performer. When he makes a mistake it seems highly likely that he will make another one. But a lot of drivers are like that, I still think Seb's biggest problem is a mental one. Not unlike Grosjean in 2012.. Because, at his best, Seb can and has taken on Lewis and beaten him.
  + 2
  
  Dec 7 2019 - 16:21
- essaouira311
  
  Posts: 158
  @ajpennypacker
  I guess we both have our point here. You' re right, too. But I still think that family plays a somehow more important role for Seb.
  I wish he has a really competitive car in 2020. Then he can do it.
  + 0
  
  Dec 8 2019 - 10:12