Horner: Webber wanted Vettel to back off

Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner has revealed that Mark Webber asked the team to advise Sebastian Vettel to back off the lap before their Turkish Grand Prix collision.

Vettel attempted to pass his team-mate for the lead on the run down to the final series of corners at Istanbul Park on lap 41, but the pair made contact, putting Vettel out of the race and forcing Webber to pit for a new nose which dropped him to third behind the McLarens of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.

Vettel, 22, had been able to close on his Australian team-mate after managing to save fuel earlier in the race, allowing him to run his engine at a higher rev limit than Webber during those crucial laps in Istanbul.

Horner says that the team were unable to allow Webber’s request, due to the pace and proximity of the McLarens.

“It was quite clear that with the speed advantage the McLarens had on the straight, it was impossible to fall back into them,” Horner told Autosport.

“Mark had requested the lap before to ask Sebastian to back off a bit. There was no way you could do that because of the McLarens being right there.”

But Horner remains confident that the issue will not cause long-term damage to the professional relationship between the two drivers.

“We’re fortunate that both our guys are mature, balanced individuals,” Horner said. “Obviously emotions were running high on Sunday, but they’re both professionals.

“They are probably not going to be down the pub for a drink together, but they will continue to work professionally in the manner that they have done in the forthcoming races.

“They work for the team at the end of the day and they know what the rules are.”