No orders, but Red Bull counting on Webber ’intelligence’

Helmut Marko has fended off the team order issue by backing the "intelligence" and "team-player qualities" of his drivers.

The issue is pertinent ahead of Sunday’s Indian grand prix, with Mark Webber effectively out of the fight for the world championship, but insisting he will not move over for Sebastian Vettel if he is running ahead of the German.

German Vettel’s title fight is really with Fernando Alonso, whose Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa is fully supportive of the Spaniard.

The same is not true at Red Bull, with Marko insisting Webber - second on the grid behind the dominant sister RB8 in India - will not be ordered to play a subordinate role to Vettel.

"We have never had team orders," Marko told F1’s official website, "but we bank on the intelligence of our drivers.

"As long as Mark has a theoretical, mathematical chance of winning the title it is understandable when he says that he is first and foremost driving for himself."

Asked however if Red Bull is counting on the ’team player qualities’ of its drivers on Sunday, he admitted: "Yes."