Vettel will be stronger than ever: Mateschitz

Double Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel will be stronger than ever this season after the most rigorous winter workout of his career, according to Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz. The 24-year-old German dominated last season, winning 11 races with 15 pole positions and becoming the youngest ever double champion with four rounds to spare. “Sebastian has got better and is stronger than ever,” Mateschitz told Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper on Friday. “He has trained over the winter break like he never did before now and he certainly won’t disappoint,” added the Austrian energy drinkbnaire. “What he needs for the third title is a competitive car and we will be able to evaluate in the first tests in Jerez (in February) where the team is heading.” Mateschitz defended the decision to stick with Australian Mark Webber, who won just once last year after being a championship contender in 2010, as Vettel’s team mate. “Mark is one of the best,” he said. “His age is relative and he’s one of the physically best prepared drivers...with a new number one mechanic at his side he will certainly not make life easy for Sebastian.” The Austrian expected McLaren, with Britons Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton, to be Red Bull’s closest rivals again, followed by Ferrari and Mercedes. Mateschitz added that he expected a new ‘Concorde Agreement’ between teams, commercial rights holder and governing body to be renewed soon and clarified the situation of Red Bull’s sister team Toro Rosso. “Toro Rosso has never been officially up for sale but we have always said that we would happily welcome important partners,” he said.Meanwhile, Toro Rosso have confirmed they will be ready to take part in the first Formula One pre-season test in Jerez next month. The Faenza-based marque have passed all mandatory FIA crash tests and the STR7 will be on track from February 7-10.A statement on the team’s website said: “(The crash tests) are compulsory for all cars that will compete in the Formula One World Championship.“This year they were even more stringent as the sport’s governing body continues to pursue safety as one of its main aims in the sport.“In addition, a new rule for 2012 stipulates that only cars that have passed all tests will be able to take part in the forthcoming winter test sessions in Spain, whereas in the past, cars could test but not race prior to passing the ‘exams’.“So we now know the car is strong enough, and as from February 7 in Jerez we can start work on making it quick and reliable.”