Mark Webber: “Kvyat-Verstappen exchange? Marko is only interested in results"

The exchange of drivers between Red Bull and Toro Rosso continues to hold sway. Mark Webber spoke out about the story that (re)brought Daniil Kvyat to Faenza and Max Verstappen to Milton Keynes. The Australian, now involved with Porsche in the WEC, explained that the decision taken by the Austrian team - in which Webber played from 2007 to 2013, the year he retired from the premier class of motorsport - did not surprise him at all.

"It was certainly a decision made before the Russian Grand Prix. This is nothing new – said the former driver from Milton Keynes – a driver exchange between Red Bull and Toro Rosso.  We'll see if Verstappen will be able to be immediately competitive with Red Bull. He has no choice, he must be ready".

“Kvyat had more than a year to prove his worth and you could see he hadn't given his all. While Verstappen has shown excellent consistency in Toro Rosso. Exchanges are usually made at the end of the season. But that's not always the case."

Webber's last thought is aimed at Helmut Marko: “A he only cares about performance. Marko wants the best from the riders in a short time. All this didn't help Kvyat, but this is F1. A world where judgments change rapidly".

Piero Ladisa

Follow @Piero Ladisa