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Comment: Horner has to get a grip on raging bulls

NEWS STORY
12/07/2010

Having enjoyed a convincing win yesterday, the mood at Red Bull's Milton Keynes HQ this morning should have been one of deep joy, but it wasn't.

Instead, team members are in shock, bewildered by what they read in newspapers and on websites, and what they hear on TV and the radio.

We say 'team members' because the people at Milton Keynes - just like any other F1 team - are not employees they are members of a team.

Therefore as they witness their team seemingly rip itself apart - with a little help from the media - they don't see yesterday as a win but rather a missed opportunity to add 43 points to their tally as opposed 31. That and the chance to take the lead in both championships.

While there is talk of members of Mark Webber's crew taunting members of Sebastian Vettel's crew after yesterday's race, our sources are not aware of this. Then again, with many still in a state of disbelief over what is happening to their team, it may be another couple of days before some of the more lurid stories start to filter through, even as far as those working on the shopfloor are concerned.

On Thursday, as the media persisted in trying to force certain drivers into a corner, to admit that they loathe their teammate and will do anything to beat them, it appeared that it was 'business as usual' as far as the Fleet Street hacks were concerned, if there isn't a story invent one.

However, over the next seventy-two hours it was clear from various comments from those actually involved that there was indeed something amiss, certainly at Red Bull.

First came the news that Vettel had been given the (new) wing from Webber's car. Then - ignoring whatever might have happened on the first lap of the race - came the comments from both Webber and (team boss) Christian Horner.

"Not bad for a number two," said Webber as he took the chequered flag, prompting Horner to reply, "You can smile now".

However, just a few minutes later, as Horner tried to play down the comments to the TV cameras, Webber was telling the world's press - courtesy of the official post-race conference - that he would never have re-signed for Red Bull had he thought the team would be biased in his teammate's favour.

Horner has said that he will hold a 'clear the air' meeting with Webber, however, as we said in the wake on the incident in Turkey, this is simply putting a band-aid on a festering wound. Fact is, there is a cancer within the team and it must be treated.

Let's not forget that this is Red Bull we're talking about, nee Stewart Grand Prix, nee Jaguar. While other teams have come and gone, Red Bull, in only its sixth season is challenging for the both titles and, for the second successive year, leaving Ferrari for dead. In a season in which Ferrari has celebrated its 800th Grand Prix and even Renault heads towards 300, let's not forget that Red Bull has only contested 88.

However, it is because of its youth, its inexperience, that this situation has come about. While Red Bull might be seen as a serious title contender and one of the more innovative teams on the grid, it has a lack of depth, a lack of experience.

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