11/05/2008
NEWS STORY
Mark Webber has admitted that he is keen to remain with Red Bull in 2009 and revealed that talks are already underway.
The Australian, now in his seventh season of F1, is on good form at present, having qualified sixth for today's Turkish GP and being the scorer of all Red Bull's championship points thus far this season, having scored points in three successive races.
"We are talking now," Webber told reporters in Istanbul. "I am free next year but I am massively keen to stay here, obviously.
"What I love about this team is that I am employed to drive the car," he continued. "If I have to do a contract day or a PR day, I ride a jet ski instead of going to talk to people that don't want to see me and I don't want to see them. That's great."
With Dietrich Mateschitz known to be seeking to move Sebastian Vettel into the main Red Bull team next year, there is a question mark over at least one of the current drivers, however, it is widely felt that at thirty-seven, David Coulthard is more at risk than his Australian teammate.
While Webber is currently performing well, and his team making positive steps forward, it is known that Mateschitz is eyeing a number of drivers, having made a bid for Fernando Alonso following his departure from McLaren in late 2007. The team's budget, not to mention it's determination to move up the grid, make it a target for any number of young hot-shots - and Red Bull has plenty of those under its wing(s).
Should he fail to retain the Red Bull seat, Webber is adamant that he will not move to a lesser team, and has no intention of moving back down the grid.
I've always said I won't be around forever fighting for 12th, 13th or 14th," he said. "I'll just go and do something else. I have no interest in doing that whatsoever any more.
"Being alongside Fernando in Barcelona, that's good and motivates you during the week," he added. "But when you are getting smoked down at the back every week and it's tough, I'd rather be riding my mountain bike with my dog."
Referring to his recent good run of form, Webber said: "We have had a good run in the last few races, we've got to try and continue. Consistency is the key in any sport and if we can hold station where we are now (that) is a very good achievement. But then we have to go to that next level."
And looking ahead...
"We are going to smash a wasps' nest up next year with the new regulations," he continued, "what with KERS and slicks. I think it will open the category up a lot more and make the teams a lot further apart in terms of their performance. That's the challenge that Red Bull have, if I drive here."