Would you rather...

I think Weber's problem is his own self.

He always looks like he has a stick up his ass. You race cars for a living, cheer the **** up!

 

Rubens was allowed to race his teammate in a championship winning car. He came up short. He was a number two because of his own shortcomings.
Rubens and webber are equals.
Ed

 

Good question ! I have to believe all drivers would prefer equal treatment and take their lumps due to the skill of their peer prevailing.

Who would want inferior equipment as justification after the fact ? Life is too short and although it would certainly play a role, stating it in public would always be interpreted as sour grapes.

I'd think it would be easier on the psyche to know you were beaten on the up and up and relish the (rare ..) memories of crossing the finish line with your teammate in the mirrors.

 

I'd rather be allowed to race my teammate and coming up short than being a #2. At least you know that your teammate is just better than you and have peace of mind about it than always wondering and *****ing to the press and become ''that guy''.

 

There's no shame in being beaten by a triple world champion.

 

If I gave it my all and finished second, I could live with that.

If I was racing alongside a genius behind the wheel, that I knew I wouldn't beat in the same equipment, and my job was to support him, I could live with that.

I absolutely couldn't play the supporting role throughout my career for someone I considered my equal, and just anointed as the #1 driver by the team management. I would only switch to the supporting role once my own championship hopes for that season were mathematically over.

All the best,
Andrew.

 

If you are asking if Webber should go to Ferrari and play #2 driver to Alonso, I think he should stay at RBR and try to beat Vettel (which is unlikely to happen - he had his chance and blew it).

 

Eddie Irvine famously put the best spin on this question by publicly claiming he was the second best driver in the world.

 

F1 is a team sport. Drivers are paid to do a job.
I'd do whatever the team deems best.
If I feel underutilized I'd move on.

 

Everyone on the grid thinks he can win it all.
Perhaps not today but eventually.

 

+1 my sentiments also.

 

Yup that also..

 

Or even better, I´d create my own team.

Well, that probably is not possible anymore, but in the old days that´s what they did.

Re: Webber, he already was given a #2 driver treatment when that affair of the wing swap in Silverstone a few years ago, and still he decided to stay. At his age, probably it was a wise decision. I´d bet that if he´s still in the team when it starts to decline, he´ll quit like Rubens did. Being number 2 in a top team is acceptable, but not in a mid-field car.

 

+1

Also +1. FWIW, both Rubens & Phil have always remained adamant that there is nothing in their contracts about "status" - They both always say the playing field is perfectly level before the first race.

Not *so* old days; Prost & Stewart weren't *that* long ago...... Mike could certainly do it if he wanted..... [Wouldn't that be a hoot! ]

Cheers,
Ian

 

I doubt that we'll see that again in modern F1.
Post-modern F1 perhaps.

 

Who cares? I never understood why Rubens always complained. You get to drive a Ferrari, you get some wins chalked up, you relax, have fun knowing your in the best team in F1, and you get to test plenty of Ferrari road cars if you want to.

 

Because F1 drivers are the elite, and the elite like to win races and titles. I would expect any F1 driver not to be satisfied with being an also-ran, and should want to carve for themselves a place in the history books as a World Champion.

If you haven't got the drive to be the best of the best, then chances are you wouldn't make it into one of those hallowed race seats in the first place. It must be immensely difficult for people of that character to, upon arrival into that seat, see all the titles and accolades go to their team-mate.

All the best,
Andrew.

 

+1

 

+2 too right.

 

+3