Categories: F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Webber offers view on Vettel's off year

Michael Schumacher's skiing accident and the birth of his first child were contributing factors to Sebastian Vettel's miserable 2014 season believes Mark Webber.

Vettel's last season with Red Bull was marked by a clear underperformance relative to his team mate Daniel Ricciardo as the German's psych and confidence appeared to slowly erode. Pundits were quick to point to a car unsuited for Vettel as a justification for his low form, and his need to be provided with exceptional machinery in order to shine, but Mark Webber suspects the reasons for Vettel's slump may be found elsewhere.

"From the outside looking at it I think Michael Schumacher's accident really knocked him round, that really hit him, as he's very close with Michael," Webber told Fox Sports. " Also he had a child, and all of a sudden maybe lap times were not the number one priority for the first few months of the year, and then it started to snowball."

As Vettel's incitement dwindled, a drastic change of environment - a move to Ferrari - was perceived as the best remedy to revive his ambitions.

"I think the Ferrari thing deal happened pretty early, and Red Bull were not in a race-winning situation – they couldn't win off their own bat, although Daniel Ricciardo and the team did win when they had the opportunity. So all these things. When you mentally check out, when you're leading a team, it's over."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.