Vergne: No Intra-Squad Rivalry

The 2012 F1 season will, once again, feature alot of open speculation as to the future of Red Bull Racing driver Mark Weber after the last checkered flag flies at Sao Paulo. With many who cover and/or follow the series expecting this year to be the Aussie's last, this will put an increased focus on this year's driver pairing at Scuderia Toro Rosso which is, after all, supposed to be the most likely source for the next RBR driver.        

While such a spotlight - and such a potential opportunity - could be the catalyst for a bitter and intense intra-squad rivalry, Jean-Eric Vernge is publicly downplaying the chances of this happening between him and teammate Daniel Ricciardo.

"There is competition with my team-mate but, at the same time, we can't [let it] go in the wrong direction," Vergne  told RMC Radio in a recent interview, "You always want to beat everybody, but my team-mate is also the only other person who is working on the very same car as me.... You have to forget about all those different aspects when you think about the work you need to do."

Sounds good - and diplomatic - so far, but will it last? Only time will tell.