Webber thinks Vettel’s exit could hurt Red Bull

February 25, 2015 – Sebastian Vettel’s team switch for 2015 could hurt Red Bull and help Ferrari according to ex-Formula 1 star and Vettel’s former teammate Mark Webber.

Despite their differences at Red Bull, Webber admits his total respect for Vettel’s talent, and backed his move to Ferrari on the basis that he needed “fresh motivation and a change”.

As for the impact it will have on Red Bull, Webber told the Herald Sun: “The line is not ‘they won’t miss Vettel’, the line is that when he wants to do something else and be in a different environment, then he is better off going somewhere he might feel he will get more out of himself.

“That’s definitely a question for the team halfway through the season, whether they are missing some of that experience,” he added.

Webber’s countryman Daniel Ricciardo has stepped into Vettel’s old number 1 role for 2015, and given the Australian’s impressive 2014 campaign, Webber is expecting another “solid” year for the energy drink-owned team.

“Obviously a wealth of knowledge and Daniel’s experience is only going to help him. They are lacking a little bit of continuity at Red Bull now — there are a few people who have left the team, so it will be interesting to see how technically good the car is over the course of a full season, not just at the start.” said Webber.

“Mercedes are the clear favourites,” he insisted. “They had a great season last year and should come out of the gates very strongly.”