07/08/2006
NEWS STORY
As first predicted by Pitpass Mark Webber will drive for Red Bull in 2007, joining David Coulthard, who has also been confirmed by the Austrian owned team.
Mark Webber joins Red Bull after his decision to leave Williams, where Alexander Wurz replaces him. With ex McLaren and Williams designer Adrian Newey in charge of the 2007 Red Bull car it is thought that they could just spring a surprise in the 2007 season and this move may turn out to be a masterstroke for the Australian.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner said Webber had "undoubted speed and ability" and "the determination and motivation needed to succeed".
Webber, said he believed he was joining the team "at exactly the right time for success in the future". He added "It's clear that the team is very hungry for long-term success, it has a very talented group of personnel and there seems to be a real sense of team spirit and unity.
"After I left Jaguar Racing at the end of the 2004 season and discovered that Mr. Mateschitz was taking over the team, I said that I felt the team had been placed in very good hands and had an assured future," added the Australian. "As a team, it seems to be very realistic and knows the challenge that lies ahead. I hope to bring good experience to the team and to assist it by being a fast and consistent driver and scoring as many points as possible."
Webber left Jaguar for Williams at the end of 2004 and was effectively replaced by Coulthard as the team morphed into Red Bull.
Coulthard said he had high expectations for the 2007 season. "I can feel that the team is really beginning to gel as a group. "I'm looking forward to raising the performance of the team and the car and to see Red Bull Racing become a regular points scorer, in with a good shout for achieving podiums and wins."
Horner said it had been "an easy decision" to extend Coulthard's contract. "David has continued to lead the team well and demonstrate the form he showed during 2005. This season he achieved the team's first podium in Monaco and has shown commitment, determination and motivation to deliver at the highest level in Formula One. It was therefore an easy decision from both sides to extend the relationship for 2007. He's still one of the best drivers on the grid and we're delighted to have him in the team.
"Looking to Mark, we chose him for a number of straightforward reasons," Horner continued. "One, he obviously has undoubted speed and ability, and two, he appears to have the determination and motivation needed to succeed. We're entering an exciting new phase in the short history of Red Bull Racing and Mark was an obvious candidate for us. He's got a good track record in F1 and we're delighted to have secured his services for next year. We believe that together he and David will form a very solid partnership, which will give us one of the strongest driver line-ups in the field."