Mark Webber believes Red Bull have gone soft

Former Red Bull driver Mark Webber believes the team of the drinks manufacturer have 'softened a bit' following the news that Brendon Hartley will return as a junior driver with Toro Rosso after previously being deemed as lacking the required talent for the team.

Hartley was previously with Red Bull seven years ago, only to be dropped from the rankings. He has since made a name for himself in the World Endurance Championship with Porsche, and will now feature in the 2018 F1 campaign with Red Bull's junior team, Toro Rosso.

However, Webber believes that Red Bull have softened in their stance from seven years ago.

"I think Red Bull softened a little bit," Webber told Motorsport.com.

"It's not as maybe as intense as it was in the former years. And maybe this opportunity would not have come about. You have to take your hat off to Helmut – he has looked at it, he's given him a second chance.

"It is a different environment. It's much calmer – which is I see only an upside."

Webber went on to offer a word of warning to younger, and claimed that being a star in the junior levels of motorsport does not necessarily translate into F1, even comparing F1 to a Michelin Star restaurant due to the expert nature of the driving.

"There's been so many drivers who were unbelievable in the junior categories, but did not really fulfil their promise in Formula 1," Webber continued.

"In Formula 1 I think it's a bit like a Michelin star restaurant, whereas a chef you have to be an expert in many different dishes. In the junior categories you don't. You have to be an expert in one or two dishes.

"But Formula 1 is like a very, very tough test for the driver envelope of operation and your ability to work with people.

"You don't really have this so much in junior categories. If you're fast, you can still do the results, but later on you need to have mind management and the composure."