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Briatore questions Webber equality

Flavio Briatore remains Mark Webber's manager © Sutton Images

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• Drivers:
• Flavio Briatore
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• Mark Webber

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• Red Bull

Flavio Briatore has questioned the support that Mark Webber is getting alongside reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel at Red Bull.

Webber was clearly unhappy at certain stages last season, most notably at the British Grand Prix when a front wing was removed from his car to be put on Vettel's and Webber responded by saying "not bad for a number two driver" over the team radio after winning the race. Having had a number of issues already this season Webber is yet to win a race, while Vettel has won four out of five.

Despite being banned from Formula One for his part in the Crashgate scandal, Briatore is still manager of Webber, and says it appears to be more than a coincidence that Webber receives the lion's share of misfortune.

"I think that team is big enough for both drivers to have equal opportunities," Briatore is quoted by AS. "Every time there is a problem, it is Webber, and although in life you have to be lucky, it's strange when all you get is bad luck. I believe unquestionably in [Christian] Horner's quality, but Webber needs to be able to compete in order to challenge for the title, for the spectacle, like Prost-Senna."

Briatore also said that he would manage the Vettel-Webber relationship differently if he were in charge at Red Bull.

"Maybe they think it's better to have a first driver light and clear. I always had a number one and number two with a chance of being competitive and working together. This works better than having a number one and number two working for themselves only. Except with Fernando and Schumacher, I never counted on one driver only."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.