Rumour mill considers Webber's successor
Plus their are those who believe that the Infiniti Red Bull Renault team should punish Vettel by making him sit out a Grand Prix event.
Mar.28 (GMM) As the 'Multi-21' affair races on, the F1 rumour mill is already beginning to churn out potential candidates for Mark Webber's seat.
The Australian's entourage and Red Bull have already denied rumours Webber will step down before his current contract finishes, but his future beyond 2013 is much more clouded.
There have even been some calling for Sebastian Vettel to be suspended for a race.
I'd say to Sebastian, 'in future don't make me look an idiot'.
"It is a very serious affair if you tell a driver to do something and he doesn't do it," McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh agrees. "It could also be a breach of his contract."
That prospect has excited Switzerland's Blick newspaper, with veteran correspondent Roger Benoit pointing out that capable reserve driver Sebastien Buemi is waiting impatiently in the wings.
Red Bull also has its Toro Rosso drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne to choose between.
Toro Rosso team boss Franz Tost told Blick: "There will certainly be no change of drivers between Red Bull and Toro Rosso."
Whitmarsh agreed: "You cannot manage these guys by discipline or by threat of broken contract -- unless you are seriously exasperated."
Bernie Ecclestone adds: "I don't think I'd give that (a race ban for Vettel) any consideration. (Instead) I'd say to Sebastian, 'in future don't make me look an idiot'."
More likely is that Red Bull will push ahead in 2013 before seriously considering whether Webber, 36, can work together with trust and harmony with his now obvious enemy Vettel in the longer term.
Germany's Bild newspaper said another Australian, Ricciardo, could be a real option for 2014.
The report also mentioned rising Red Bull-contracted star Antonio Felix da Costa, even though his more likely next step would be a Toro Rosso race seat.
Asked whether Webber and Vettel will continue to work together, F1 chief executive Ecclestone continued: "Yes, of course they will, obviously they will."
As for whether he was talking about 2014, he admitted: "I don't know about that."
Share Or Save This Story
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
Antonio Felix da Costa defends Jaguar, says Pascal Wehrlein took Jake Dennis out “on purpose”
Antonio Felix da Costa joins Alpine’s WEC squad after Porsche exit
How da Costa's revival may force Porsche to heed a lesson from Jaguar
Isack Hadjar to make Red Bull return at F1 Azerbaijan GP
Guenther Steiner predicts Max Verstappen will go winless in 2026 F1 season
How Kimi Antonelli is proving unbeatable, even when he's beaten
IndyCar reports record 2026 metrics across broadcast, digital, and live events
NASCAR debates fairness of qualifying metric after two time trial rain outs during The Chase
Sebastien Bourdais joins DragonSpeed Corvette lineup in GTD Pro return at Petit Le Mans
Sheldon van der Linde ‘played elbows out when Cadillac couldn’t’ for breakthrough Indy win
Ten years of Baku: Can F1 2026 bring back the fear factor?
Great debate: Which circuit should host the F1 2026 finale if the calendar has to change?
Italy’s next F1 world champion?
What's behind the talks between the FIA president and Fernando Alonso over ADUO?
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments