• Malaysian Grand Prix

Red Bull problems won't go away - Button

ESPN Staff
March 27, 2013 « Lauda questions Brawn's team orders | Red Bull issues now 'settled', claims Marko »
Jenson Button does not think the relationship between Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel will be able to recover © Getty Images
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McLaren's Jenson Button thinks Sebastian Vettel will ultimately pay a price for defying team orders at the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Vettel passed team-mate Mark Webber at Sepang despite a call from the Red Bull pit wall for the pair to hold position in the closing stages of Sunday's race. Team principal Christian Horner said the issue would be dealt with behind closed doors, but Button thinks Vettel's short-term gain will not be worth the long-term repercussions at Red Bull.

"We all want to win but [Vettel] drives for Red Bull and they have to call the shots," Button was quoted by the Times. "That will hurt Sebastian in the long run. I am surprised he did that, but there you go."

Button does not think Horner will be able to plaster over the cracks in Vettel and Webber's relationship.

"Instead of worrying about all the other guys on the grid, they are worrying about what their team-mate is going to do," the McLaren driver said. "It can cause an issue. Even if they sit down and discuss it, it is now going to change the outcome. It is still in their minds. It does not go away.

"If you are told to do something by the team and you completely ignore what they said and it costs your team-mate a win, that is big."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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