F1: Drama In Turkey F1 Grand Prix As Red Bulls Collide, Marko And Horner Blame Webber And Engineer

Sunday in Turkey hosted a dramatic seventh round of the 2010 World Cchampionship.

Red Bull's Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel, challenged hard by the McLarens, collided while running first and second at Istanbul Park, triggering dramatic scenes both trackside and back in the paddock.

After emerging from his stricken RB6, German Vettel twiddled his finger around his ears in disgust, but whilst enraged initially refused to speak to reporters.

"Don't you throw me around!" a journalist barked at a Red Bull minder as Vettel pushed his way into the Red Bull transporter.

Eventual winner Lewis Hamilton quietly asked Webber about the incident after the race, and the Australian gestured that Vettel had turned sharply to the right whilst alongside him.

Webber, 33, was then fiercely reserved whilst addressing reporters in the FIA press conference, but admitted that he thought Vettel had "turned pretty quickly to the right" before the crash.

In a frantic paddock press scrum, an angry-looking Vettel explained: "It was clear I had the inside and was ahead. I dived down the left, I had the corner so I was trying to focus on the braking and I lost the car."

Team boss Christian Horner said he was angry at both drivers.

"What we always ask is that the drivers give each other room," he said. "Today, neither yielded."

BBC commentator Martin Brundle concluded that the young German was "unquestionably" at fault, and McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh admitted he is not sure he would have "cuddled" Vettel when the 22-year-old eventually walked to the pitwall.

But although celebrating a one-two at Red Bull's expense, there was also controversy on the McLaren pitwall, after Jenson Button and Hamilton tussled for the lead after being told to save fuel and tyres.

Having been captured by live TV images in anxious response to their wheel-to-wheel battle, Whitmarsh admitted the moments had made him "uncomfortable".

But the outcome of the race, while leaving championship leader Webber five points clear, sees both McLarens close behind, with Vettel dropping 15 points behind.

(GMM)

Marko, Horner Blame Webber And Engineer For Crash

Red Bull's F1 chiefs on Sunday backed Sebastian Vettel after the young German's crash with teammate Mark Webber in the Turkish grand prix.

Australian Webber said the sister RB6 turned into him during the overtaking manoeuvre, but team advisor Helmut Marko pointed a clear finger of blame at the 33-year-old and his race engineer Ciaron Pilbeam.

"Webber was slower and Vettel had immense pressure from Hamilton," Marko said on German television RTL.

"Unfortunately, Mark was not told about the situation accurately by his race engineer," he explained.

But Marko was also critical of Webber's behaviour.

"He had radioed the pits to say he was slower on the straights (than Vettel). He knew the situation and had just been informed about the pressure Hamilton was putting on (Vettel).

"Vettel was so much faster than he had to pass. If Webber and he had braked together, then Hamilton would have passed Vettel," said Marko.

Initially, team boss Christian Horner had indicated he was angry at both drivers, but eventually it was Webber who took the blame.

"It looks as though he didn't leave Sebastian enough space. It was very clear he (Vettel) was by his side and in front. But I still have to speak with both of them," said the Briton.

(GMM)

Intrigue in Turkey after Webber/Vettel crash

Red Bull had instructed Mark Webber to switch his engine to a fuel-saving mode in the moments before his crash with teammate Sebastian Vettel in Turkey.

In the aftermath of the controversial incident, rumours began to swirl inside the Istanbul Park paddock that there was more to it than met the eye.

Australian Webber alluded to the intrigue by telling reporters after the race that Vettel had a "big top speed advantage" when he launched the move.

Pressed for whether there was a reason for the speed difference, Webber answered: "Hmm, maybe.

"You guys need to dig more, somewhere else."

The media therefore went to team bosses Christian Horner and Helmut Marko, who initially did not confirm that Webber and Vettel's engines were running on different settings.

"I think it was in the tyres," said advisor Marko, when asked specifically if there was a reason that Vettel was so much quicker than Webber at the time of the shunt.

Both Horner and Marko seemed to blame Webber for the crash, directly contradicting many experts within the paddock.

It is rumoured that, as the pair were on equal points at the head of the world championship at the time of the shunt, Red Bull wanted Vettel to pass Webber and win the race.

Marko denied that Webber's engineer had been instructed to tell the driver to let Vettel past.

"That is not correct," said the Austrian, "because that would mean a team order.

"We informed Mark about the situation and it is for the driver to decide. The fact is that if Sebastian hadn't passed he would have been overtaken by Hamilton."

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