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Formula One News » Helmut Marko Talks, Vettel, Webber and Alonso Posted on 08/01/2013

Helmut Marko has hit back at Sebastian Vettel critics, accuses Fernando Alonso of being political and thinks Mark Webber suffers under pressure…..

Speaking to Red Bulletin, Helmut Marko said “There is a lot of nonsense being said,” he said. “‘Vettel can’t overtake.’ Ridiculous; just look at Abu Dhabi and Brazil. ‘He is only able to win because he’s sitting in a Newey car.’ We have two Newey cars, so why aren’t we clinching one-two at every race?”

“There is no way Enzo would have liked such defeat, but he would acknowledge the performance of the opposition – and then would whip his boys accordingly so they’d do everything to beat us. But not with such actions as we have recently experienced.”

“Alonso is constantly involved in politics. I believe we saw the stress he was under towards the end of the season. Saying things like, ‘I’m competing against Hamilton, not Vettel,’ and ‘I’m up against Newey,’ these psychological skirmishes. We said, ‘Just ignore him.’”

“In comparison with Seb’s rising form, it seems to me that Mark’s form somehow flattens out. Then, if some technical mishap occurs, like with the alternator for example, he falls relatively easily into a downward spiral. No driver remains unaffected by this, because the tension is palpable.”

“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.”