Mechanical issue with Webber’s RB7

[univex]

Inside the Race is claiming unconfirmed reports indicating a mechanical issue with Webber's RB7. Any other reports or speculation on what the problem if any mught be?

Inside the Race – Round 1: Australian Grand Prix

"A talking point in Australia was Mark Webber’s consistent lack of comparative pace to teammate Vettel in both qualifying and the race. From the differential table above, Webber lost the vast majority of time over 2/3 of the lap; which is very atypical for past comparisons between the dueling Red Bull teammates. As will be shown later, Webber also suffered from tire degradation in the race far and above the levels experienced by Vettel. At the weekend’s conclusion, Webber informed the media that he pulled off the track immediately upon crossing the finish line as a precautionary measure because he felt something was just not right with his chassis. Red Bull confirmed it would be conducting a full strip-down of Webber’s car, and there are unconfirmed reports that the team has already found a mechanical issue that was the culprit of Webber’s problems in Australia. Point of all this being that its far too soon to write Webber off as a non-contender to Vettel."

[FW17]

Webber informed the media that he pulled off the track immediately upon crossing the finish line as a precautionary measure because he felt something was just not right with his chassis.

I think he would have done a lot more damage to the car by pulling off to the side and not allowing enough time for thinks to cool down.

[bot6]

Maybe more damage to the car, but not to himself. Once the race is finished, why risk something bad happening if you feel something is wrong with the car?

[univex]

I heard elsewhere he pulled off because he was low on fuel as he was pushing hard and did not conserve as much. Possibly running a richer setting for longer. They were concerned he would stop on track before making it back.

[raymondu999]

I heard elsewhere he pulled off because he was low on fuel as he was pushing hard and did not conserve as much. Possibly running a richer setting for longer. They were concerned he would stop on track before making it back.

Sounds plausible. Given his 3-stopper he would've had many more laps on fresh tyres than Vettel

[WhiteBlue]

So bottom line is we know as much as we knew after the race about this rumor.

[raymondu999]

This mechanical issue talk smacks of what was said of Vettel's chassis after Monaco last year

[segedunum]

It does a bit, doesn't it?

[copperkipper1]

Webber is clearly just still getting used to the tyres and his new machine... No problems will be found. Just a bad weekend for him..

[marcush.]

yep.Vettel was at a loss to explain just why Webber could get more out of the car especially in qualy.they found something but never revealed what it was.And the battle turned around.
A year before they also had to scrap Vettels machine after a very short life...(but that was due to accident damage ?)
IIn fact this is the main point of my suspicion they already use tub flex in certain areas as performance enhancer..maybe some tubs just don´t show the optimum desired characteristic due to layup inconsistencies /reproduceability and just have to be discarded?

[raymondu999]

No, in 2009 it wasn't that. In 2009 he had a crash with Kubica, that lost his front wing. This then caused a massive shunt against the wall, so in race 2 he was using a new tub

[PlatinumZealot]

More excuses from Webber again?

From What I know Webber always gets the lighter of the two chassis. But come on.

[Maidel]

Well it would make sense to give him the lighter one as he already provides his own balast because he's a huge fat lump (well maybe not fat...)

[univex]

For 2010 Vettel picked up his form after an engine map upgrade which effectively replicated (and improved) Webber's ability to feather the throttle whilst getting the power on. The development of the car is always in favour of Vettel and his driving style. Given the age difference between the drivers most teams would obviously do this.

Yes the car is built around the bigger driver (Webber) however the development is around Vettel.

[raymondu999]

For 2010 Vettel picked up his form after an engine map upgrade which effectively replicated (and improved) Webber's ability to feather the throttle whilst getting the power on. The development of the car is always in favour of Vettel and his driving style. Given the age difference between the drivers most teams would obviously do this.

Yes the car is built around the bigger driver (Webber) however the development is around Vettel.

I've heard that being thrown around quite a bit, but the only source I've heard of on that front is Ted Kravitz - hardly the most reliable of sources, methinks