Motorsport: Webber accused of deliberately crashing

Former F1 team owner Gerhard Berger has accused Mark Webber of deliberately crashing at last Sunday's Korean Grand Prix.

And German Nico Rosberg, whose Mercedes was taken out in the incident, has described the Australian's actions as "crazy".

Berger, a former co-owner of Red Bull's sister team Toro Rosso, says that while Webber's move was planned, he collected the wrong man.

The Austrian has suggested that Webber wanted to damage the title hopes of his main championship challengers, Ferrari's Fernando Alonso or McLaren's Lewis Hamilton.

Berger believes Webber did not have to bounce back across the track after colliding with a wall.

Rosberg, who was close behind, found himself with nowhere to steer as Webber spun around in his path. Watch the crash.

"He could have hit the brakes and stopped the car at the wall," Berger told Servus TV.

"He took out Rosberg, but it was the wrong one. I think in his mind he would have preferred Alonso or Hamilton."

Berger said it was "very clear" that Webber failed to brake on purpose.

"He goes off and he knows it's over.

"In this moment you're frustrated and a thousand thoughts go through your head.

"It's very obvious, you can see his wheels are not locked up. Perhaps he had a brake problem, but I don't think so," he said.

Rosberg, who had driven impressively into fourth place, was also puzzled why Webber did not stop at the wall.

"I don't understand why Webber didn't hit the brakes," he said. "It was crazy to roll back across the track like that."

Meanwhile, Berger is convinced that Red Bull will not impose team orders on its drivers to make sure one has the better chance of winning the title.

He says this is because Red Bull has a different approach to F1 to its rivals.

"Some of the teams, like Williams or McLaren, operate as a business," Berger said. "In this way it makes sense for them to have a team strategy in order to maximise their championship position.

"But Red Bull has a very different approach, using Formula One as a sporting platform to boost its product and from the sporting approach, the best man wins.

"If I know (Red Bull owner) Dietrich Mateschitz, there is no question about the approach. And I think the fans will be grateful. It's sport.

"It's not sport, however, if all year you're just making tactical moves."


- AAP