Red Bull Self-Sabotage

Filed in archive F1 Racing on May 31, 2010

Red Bull F1 shot themselves in the foot at the weekend's Grand Prix in Turkey. The lucky few who were fortunate enough to get the much sought-after tickets for the spectators' stands witnessed a moment that will go down in F1 history as the biggest example of self-sabotage since Renault signed Flavio Briatore as managing director in 2000.

Navigating the run-in to Turn 12 on Lap 40, Sebastian Vettel, who had been trailing his team-mate Mark Webber in first place, attempted an overtaking manoeuvre. Webber didn't give as the German moved to intimidate him off the racing line, and both went spinning off to allow the struggling McLarens to head to an eventual first and second finish.

© Formula One Racing

Webber survived the collision and managed to finish in third place, but the implications for the constructors and even the championship race could be huge. Vettel was apologetic for the cameras, and made a show of shaking all the hands in the Red Bull garage, but now the two drivers are blaming each other for the monumental mistake. The governing body will most definitely find that it was Vettel at fault, but he may choose to hold it against his teammate who refused to budge from first place.

Webber currently leads the race by five points, an amount that may have been as much as 15 had he not literally been knocked out of first. The F1 season continues on 13th June in Montreal, Canada where it promises to be significantly more heated than it has been so far.