F1: Webber Ordered To Not Pass Vettel

Sebastian Vettel managed to extend his championship lead yet again, despite failing to win the British Grand Prix.

The Red Bull driver finished behind Fernando Alonso, who notched-up Ferrari's first win since Korea last year.

Vettel, meanwhile, crossed the line just ahead of his teammate Mark Webber, who was ordered by boss Christian Horner in the closing stages to call off his challenge and "maintain the gap".

"I can understand Mark's frustrations but we cannot give away a load of points," Horner told the BBC, despite arguing staunchly against the entire philosophy of team orders when Vettel was chasing down the leaders in 2010.

(GMM)

Webber annoyed after Red Bull team orders

If there were any doubts as to Mark Webber's place as the number two driver at Red Bull, they were quashed this weekend after he was ordered to hold station behind teammate Sebastian Vettel.

A year ago, after his new front wing was removed from his car and handed to Vettel, Australian Webber furiously declared "not bad for a number two driver" as he won at Silverstone.

German Vettel went on to win the 2010 title as Red Bull insisted staunchly that team orders run against the philosophy of the team's owner mogul Dietrich Mateschitz.

But in the closing stages of the British Grand Prix a year on, Webber was told by boss Christian Horner on the radio as he challenged Vettel for second place: "Maintain your position."

The initial reports were that, despite team orders now being fully legal, the 34-year-old is furious and in fact ignored the order several times.

Webber commented: "I tried to do my best with the amount of conversation I had with the four or five messages of the team."

Asked if he felt like repeating his 'Not bad for a number 2 driver' after crossing the line in third place, he added: "Not really, I wanted the race to the end."

"Of course they (Vettel's side of the garage) want the points, but I also need to try to get some points as well."

(GMM)

2011 F1 Leaderboard

1. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing - 204
2. Mark Webber Red Bull Racing - 124
3. Fernando Alonso Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro - 112
4. Lewis Hamilton Vodafone McLaren Mercedes -109
   = Jenson Button Vodafone McLaren Mercedes - 109
5. Felipe Massa Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro - 52
6. Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP Petronas F1 Team - 40
7. Nick Heidfeld Lotus Renault GP - 34
8. Vitaly Petrov Lotus Renault GP - 31
9. Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP Petronas F1 Team - 28
10. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber F1 Team - 25
11. Adrian Sutil Force India F1 Team - 10
12. Jaime Alguersuari Scuderia Toro Rosso - 9
13. Sergio Perez Sauber F1 Team - 8
    = Sebastien Buemi Scuderia Toro Rosso - 8
14. Rubens Barrichello AT&T Williams - 4
15. Paul di Resta Force India F1 Team - 2
16. Pastor Maldonado AT&T Williams - 0
    = Jarno Trulli Team Lotus - 0
    = Heikki Kovalainen Team Lotus - 0
    = Narain Karthikeyan Hispania Racing F1 Team - 0
    = Vitantonio Liuzzi Hispania Racing F1 Team - 0
    = Timo Glock Marussia Virgin Racing - 0
    = Jerome d'Ambrosio Marussia Virgin Racing - 0