Webber extends Red Bull F1 deal
Australian Mark Webber on Tuesday ended speculation about his future by signing a new one-year contract with Red Bull Racing for 2013.
Webber, who claimed the ninth victory of his Formula One career on Sunday in the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, had been linked with a move to Ferrari.
But the 35-year-old, who trails Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso by 13 points in the overall standings, has opted to remain with Red Bull for a seventh season.
“I’ve been with Red Bull Racing since 2007 and have achieved nine grand prix wins during that time,” said Webber.
“I’m high on confidence at the moment and firing on all cylinders.
“I know the team well and I’m very comfortable here. We have grown together over the years and it feels like absolutely the right thing to stay with Red Bull for another season.
“The team is constantly working hard to improve in all areas and we’ve shown that together, we can win races.
“It’s great to be able to make this announcement off the back of the win in Silverstone at the weekend and I’m looking forward to competing on the edge and pushing myself in every race again next season.”
Team chief Christian Horner added: “Mark has driven very well in the first nine races of this season and his performance has been impressive.
“Much of his Formula One success has been during his time with Red Bull Racing and together we have achieved 10 poles, nine wins and 31 podiums.
“As there was a strong desire from both sides to continue the partnership, it was a logical decision to extend our relationship and it is with great pleasure we confirm Mark will drive for us in 2013.”
With defending double world champion teammate Sebastian Vettel of Germany already contracted to Red Bull Racing until the end of 2014, the English-based stable are the first team to confirm their 2013 driver line-up.
Asked if 2013 would be his last season in F1, Webber replied: “I’ve been asked this question for the past four years and my answer remains the same.
“It’s a results-based sport at the front of the grid so the future lies in my own hands. It’s down to me to deliver the on-track results.”
© AFP 2013The Crowd Says (14) | Page 1 of Comments
Have Your Say
- Explore:
- Formula One, Mark Webber, Motorsport, red bull racing
July 11th 2012 @ 8:43am
Fivehole said | July 11th 2012 @ 8:43am | Report comment
A good move by Mark. the red bull is always competitive, and this year it seems less like Vettel getting all the advantages and Mark the scraps. Still the odd tactical move which seems to favour Vettel over Webber, but sometimes that is just luck of the draw.
Wasn’t sure a move to Ferrari, as was speculated, would have been the best. The gap between Massa and Alonso is massive, not sure if that is 100% on the difference in driving ability.
July 11th 2012 @ 9:01am
Mark Young said | July 11th 2012 @ 9:01am | Report comment
Exactly right Fivehole – Massa is clearly number 2 and it really has destroyed his spirit.
I was watching the season highlights of 2007 the other night and couldn’t believe how racey and fiesty Felipe was, he is just a shell now.
Great to see Mark getting another drive for Red Bull, and really good to see that he and Seb are going to continue their partnership which has been the most successful in the sport for the past 4 years. They may not be mates, but they clearly get along well enough to work alongside improving the car and making it fly.
July 11th 2012 @ 10:03am
Mat Coch said | July 11th 2012 @ 10:03am | Report comment
Being a #2 driver isn’t what’s dampened Massa’s spirit. He was there alongside Schumacher and Raikkonen while the second driver and came within a point of the championship in 2008.
Nobody can yet work out how.
As far as suggestions that Mark gets the rough end of the stick, it’s important to remember that despite what dais we put the local lad on he is just Red Bull’s second driver. The other car has a dual world champion in it – any line-ball decisions are always going to favour whichever of the teams drivers it feels will give the greatest chance of reward.
This year it’s a little different, they can’t race the team for Seb because it’s so dynamic. It remains to be seen how that pans out.
Still, this’ll add to my fun during the Thursday press call in Germany since even Helmut Marko was seemingly caught unawares.
July 11th 2012 @ 10:39am
Brett McKay said | July 11th 2012 @ 10:39am | Report comment
Mat, for how much longer can Webber remain ahead of Vettel in the standings and consistency-wise and NOT get the backing of the team? Surely there will have to come a point soon where the team realise they have to start backing one driver for the title?
July 11th 2012 @ 10:58am
Mat Coch said | July 11th 2012 @ 10:58am | Report comment
Two races ago Hamilton led the championshpi but now finds himself 37 points behind Alonso.
Given that fluidity and variation Red Bull would be shooting themselves in the foot to put their eggs in either respective basket, given Seb is only 16 points behind Mark, and 29 shy of Fernando.
They’re dominating the constructors championship, and for the team that means just as much as a drivers title. More to the mechanics in fact, since there are performance bonuses included in their contracts.
A pattern is beginning to emerge but until the picture is clearer and Red Bull have a tighter grasp on what it takes to be competitive consistently this year – and let’s face it nobody has really mastered that this year – they’re better off letting both drivers do their own thing.
July 11th 2012 @ 11:02am
Brett McKay said | July 11th 2012 @ 11:02am | Report comment
cheers for the response, Mat, thanks…
July 11th 2012 @ 12:47pm
Mark Young said | July 11th 2012 @ 12:47pm | Report comment
Gday Mat!
What is your read on Massa? As you said, he was on fire in 2007/2008 and indeed was quicker then Schu a fair few times as well.
I think he is a confidence driver (hence Rob Smedley’s enthusiastic cheering over the radio all race) and his confidence has been completely destroyed by Alonso.
What do you think?
July 11th 2012 @ 10:20pm
Mat Coch said | July 11th 2012 @ 10:20pm | Report comment
Massa has been crucified in recent years. For a long time I shared the common opinion however as this season wears on I’m beginning to reach another conclusion.
Felipe is a confidence driver. That took a significant hit after his Hungarian accident (no pun intended), and it’s taken time to rebuild that. However, I don’t think things are as bad as they have appeared.
At the start of 2010 he was broadly competitive. As the season wore on that faded, but was exaggerated by the fact he drives alongside Fernando.
Fernando is exceptional. He’s the best driver on the grid and has out-performed the car. Massa has not been able to do that.
It’s the Schumacher/Irvine scenario in 1996. Irvine drove the 1996 Ferrari to it’s potential, Fernando has out driven the 2010, 2011 and 2012 cars.
July 11th 2012 @ 10:10am
Mat Coch said | July 11th 2012 @ 10:10am | Report comment
This is what amuses me; quotes from over the weekend where the contract must have been all but signed, and yet nothing was let on;
http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/07/07/webber-confident-of-f1-future-somewhere/
July 11th 2012 @ 9:19am
Fivehole said | July 11th 2012 @ 9:19am | Report comment
Interesting read
http://www.markwebber.com/on-the-track-news/qa-with-mark-webber/
July 11th 2012 @ 1:39pm
Johnno said | July 11th 2012 @ 1:39pm | Report comment
For a guy who was so upset about being no 2. All i can say is money talks, and numbers are just that only numbers meaningless who cares if your no 1 or 2 money talks, and webbers has clearly sacrificed values and pride for $$$$. Good man he came to his sense money talks.
July 11th 2012 @ 1:56pm
stam said | July 11th 2012 @ 1:56pm | Report comment
Say what now?
He is staying with the best team out there, what should he have done in your opinion?
July 11th 2012 @ 10:56pm
Mat Coch said | July 11th 2012 @ 10:56pm | Report comment
Red Bull is one of the lowest paying teams on the grid, its drivers topping up their salaries by way of performance bonuses.
Mark is on an estimated $6million. Felipe Massa is on an estimated $14million.
July 16th 2012 @ 12:08am
AndyMack said | July 16th 2012 @ 12:08am | Report comment
facepalm