The 2010 Formula 1 season rivalry between Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel was arguably one of the best ever witnessed within the sport, which begs the question: At what point does rivalry cross the line and become detrimental to the team?

In the calm that followed the Abu Dhabi title decider storm, Webber and Vettel maintained that their tempestuous rivalry was at a healthy level, and that it had served to push the team forward as they strived to win both championships. In reality, midway through the season, their rivalry was affecting the team adversely as it almost tore it apart. Who can forget the scenes following the Turkish Grand Prix, when both drivers threw away an almost guaranteed 1, 2 finish by taking each other out, and in the process, handed over the constructor’s championship lead to McLaren? This lay in stark contrast to the conduct of Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton, who constantly pushed each other throughout the race, but kept their respective cars on track.

Red Bull principal Christian Horner conceded that things had gone too far when he stated after the race that, “It is right to let the drivers race, we saw McLaren today letting their drivers race, but when drivers are in the same team it is important that they give each other a bit more respect and concede if one has got a run on the other.” Mutual respect was not present between the two Red Bull drivers at the Silverstone Grand Prix, when the worsening situation and discontent within the team was voiced by Webber as he radioed “Not bad for a number two driver,” as he crossed the line in first place. This was an indiscreet reference to his unhappiness at the team’s decision to take a new front wing from his car and hand it to Vettel, a driver who has always been firmly ensconced within the Red Bull family as he was spawned from the Red Bull Young Driver’s Program. This decision can only have fuelled Webber’s suspicions that the team was favouring Vettel over him.

Despite all of those in-team ructions, Red Bull have seemingly always maintained their policy of treating both of their drivers equally. This was not the case at Ferrari, whose decision to put all of the resources and energy behind Alonso, and make controversial team order decisions, as illustrated earlier on in the season, seemed like it was going to pay off, but in the end, a disastrous strategy call lost him the championship. Ultimately, Red Bull’s policy of equality between their drivers and no team orders paid off. Vettel came from third in the championship standings to steal the driver’s championship at the final race of the season, whilst the constructor’s championship had been won after the Brazilian Grand Prix.

At the Red Bull conference in Saltzburg,Webber evidently had no qualms about his 2010 season as he conceded that, “Of course, he (Vettel) deserves the world title this year, we know it could have went four ways at the last race – it went Seb’s way because he deserved it,” but tantalizingly added, “We start again from the first race this year,” and that it was like they were “almost going to start the battle again in Bahrain.” This will be a battle fought on the track rather than in the motorhome, and one thing is certain, the rivalry between the two drivers is compulsive viewing, and will be a fascinating aspect of the 2011 Formula 1 season. By Jessica Murphy

Worth checking - Motorsport news - F1 news

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