Webber and Vettel back on talking terms

Dubai: Retired Formula One driver Mark Webber has said he’s back on talking terms with former Red Bull teammate and one-time arch-rival Sebastian Vettel.

“We actually flew from Melbourne to Dubai after the Melbourne Grand Prix and were pretty much sitting together and had a good chat,” the Australian told a local Dubai radio station while in the UAE on Monday promoting this November 29th’s F1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. “Time’s a great healer. When you are in there going for it and want the same territory it’s very hard to come up for air, and every season rolls into one.

“Now I think time’s moved on and we’ll see. We were at odds at the end of the day, but I suppose we’re not at odds when we’ve got our helmets off.”

Webber, who was Vettel’s teammate for four years between 2009 and 2013, explained: “Vettel and I were teammates for quite a few years and Sebastian’s trophy cabinet at the end of that was quite a bit different to mine, he did quite well out of that, but yes we had a very successful period at Red Bull Racing as a team winning quite a few team (four) and driver’s (four) championships in Seb’s case.

“With that comes some tension to the friendship I suppose on the professional front and obviously that might creep into the personal stuff as well.

“Malaysia 2013 [when Vettel ignored team orders to overtake Webber] was the icing on the cake in what was a difficult relationship for four years. Now, it’s different when not competing, we’re not inside the boxing ring anymore.”