Webber names F1's top two drivers - did Vettel make the cut?

Mark Webber has named two drivers as "the best" on the current Formula 1 grid, with no place for former Red Bull team-mate Sebastian Vettel among his top choices. Although the Australian believes Mercedes are "on the back foot", he says Lewis Hamilton has the talent to turn things around.

Webber teamed with Vettel through Red Bull's era of dominance between 2010-2013, with double title success coming the team's way each year.

Of course, Vettel took the drivers' crown each time, and often clashed with his more experienced teammate, none more infamously than the 'Multi 21' race in Malaysia 2013, which saw the German beat Webber after ignoring team orders to the contrary.

With the 2019 season starting next week in Webber's native Australia, he took time to preview the campaign, and name the drivers he believes to be the best on the grid.

"There's a lot of shadow-boxing going on," he told the Australian Financial Review.

"Mercedes might be slightly on the back foot, though from an incredibly high benchmark.

"There's the Max Verstappen factor too. In [wet] conditions Max and Lewis Hamilton are the best in the world. Max is going to take a lot of risks, put his nose in everywhere."

As for Daniel Ricciardo, Webber thinks his fellow Australian will struggle to be competitive initially at Renault.

"It's going to be a long campaign to get them competitive but he'll lift that team, there's no doubt about it," he said.

On Ricciardo's hopes of winning a race, Webber added: "He'd need some stars lining up, but it can happen.

"He's not ballistically quick over one lap but when it comes to racing -- if anyone can pull something out of that Renault on Sunday it's him."

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