Planet-F1

Webber: A real coup signing Vettel

Friday 18th July 2008

Mark Webber has praised his Red Bull team for their decision to sign Sebastian Vettel, hailing it as a "real coup" for the team.

Red Bull announced on Thursday at Hockenheim that Vettel had been signed as David Coulthard's replacement for the 2009 F1 season.

The team has been welcomed by Webber, the man who will partner the current Toro Rosso driver having himself recently signed a one-year extension with the team.

"There are not many quick youngsters around with experience at the moment so it's a real coup for Red Bull," Webber told Autosport.

"He is the first real Red Bull-backed driver to come through their junior programme to have the talent to back the cash."

The Aussie is looking forward to the challenge of partnering a young team-mate who many reckons could one day go on to win the F1 Drivers' title.

"If he blows me away people will say Webber's past it, but if I blow him away then people will say Vettel's not quick. That's normal. I had that with (Nico) Rosberg," he said.

"I'm more than comfortable with what I have done since I have been in Formula One. It's nice to have that qualifying reputation, but it would be nice to drill that this year with some solid race results.

"Obviously Silverstone didn't go my way, but even in the first stint I carved my way back up there, and we have finished every race this year."