Helmut Marko, Red Bull Racing’s motorsport advisor, has taken the unusual step of heaping more pressure on Mark Webber by saying the likeable Aussie can’t handle pressure. More unusually, Marko’s comments were published in Red Bull’s in-house title The Red Bulletin.
“It seems to me that Webber has on average two races per year where he is unbeatable, but he can’t maintain this form throughout the year,” said Marko.
“And as soon as his prospects start to look good in the world championship, he has a little trouble with the pressure that this creates.
“In comparison with Seb [Vettel’s] rising form, it seems to me that Mark’s form somehow flattens out.”
Webber’s disastrous race at Abu Dhabi in 2010, which, in part, handed the world championship to teammate Sebastian Vettel, also remains strong in Marko’s memory.
“In 2010, it was particularly extreme. Webber headed into the final race with better chances than Vettel, and he probably carried the disappointment of his defeat into the 2011 season, which is so easy to understand,” he added.
Marko also claims Webber has struggled to cope with the stellar form and results of his younger teammate.
“Something that I think is also very important is that for much of his career, Mark was never in a top team, but he was always regarded as a high flyer if he only could get into the right team,” said Marko.
“Then Red Bull puts him in a car—a possible winner—and suddenly along comes this young kid and he snatches the booty from under Mark’s nose.
“Psychologically it’s not easy, of course; this would gnaw away at anyone’s confidence. It’s more than understandable.”
[Source: Autosport | Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]
6 replies on “Marko says Webber can’t handle pressure”
Cockhead comments, but grounded in truth. You just don’t expect your team member to be saying shit like this, irrespective of how true it rings.
One C. Lowndes agrees with you The Ham.
You know what else effects a driver? Some arseclown “team consultant” with a clear agenda of building a team around their preferred driver. Marko takes every possibility under the sun to have a go at Webber.
How much of the bluntness of his statement could be attributed to being translated from a different language, or being spoken in a second tongue? That’s pretty incredible. Especially to say in the twilight of his career where his achievements should probably be celebrated…
Maybe I should have whacked the one eyed twat when I was standing next to him in the pit lane in Melbourne last year 🙂 🙂 🙂
[…] Helmut Marko’s controversial comments earlier this year saying that Mark Webber can’t handle pressure, Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz has assured Webber he’ll be treated […]