Quote Originally Posted by dj_bytedisaster View Post
RB have 'shiny object syndrome'. Most of the team members are utter mercenaries. I've been working with TJ13 now for two years and our chief editor cornered one of our RB contacts about why it seems that the team does prefer RIC this year. The answer was simple: "Ric delivers the points and hence the bonus payments for us, so he's who our loyalty lies with." They are completely indifferent to Vettel as of this year. He's merely there because they are obliged to run two cars.
I have to admit, I was one of the guys who thought Mark was just past it, but having seen how a bloody four-times WDC is basically thrown under the bus, I get a new understanding for what he must have gone through. Mind you, I don't quite understand why he took that shit for four years. He'd have been better off at any other team. RB in my opinion is a pure one car team.
You have been working with TJ13? Wow, well, I am not in position to detect the validity of the claim, but okay.

However, as for the question, why did Webber stay for so long, the answer is easy. There was no better place to go. Same with Barrichello in Ferrari. I am sure the team didn't revolve around these drivers and they were unhappy at times due to that, but if you are in the best car on the grid and can get at least occasional wins, it is better than be mired in midfield and barely get a few points on your scorecard.

Drivers all want to make a career and get good results. Difficulties and also complications in intra-team relationships are part of the natural game. This is something you have to suck up, deal with, and carry on. If you are picky, complaining and bang the doors by leaving, it is likely you destroy your career. Look at what is happening with Alonso. He fell out with McLaren in 2007 and had to sit in midfield cars for two years. Now it looks like he has fallen out with Ferrari and has nowhere else to go than back to this "disliked" McLaren. You have to be at least a bit diplomatic (or a"hated" PR-driver as the saying goes), if you want to have a good career, and not make enemies in the business.

Webber may not have had an easy time in RBR, but there are no guarantees he would have had it better elsewhere. Why could Vettel leave unlike Webber? Because he is much younger, can still have a meaningful career, and can basically be the unofficial #1 driver at Ferrari. Whatever that means, but certainly Ferrari expect him to be an important part of their future plans. Webber had nowhere to go, he would have been a #2 everywhere else too. And he was getting old, so it was important for him to get any results he still could.