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
Alpine explains decision to drop Antonio Felix da Costa, Fred Makowiecki from Fuji WEC line-up
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
Red Bull is overcoming ADUO restrictions but still calls on tweaks for F1 2027
Charles Leclerc: Ferrari must learn from Red Bull to improve F1 race strategy
How the Bahrain GP in Malaysia exposed Red Bull’s hidden resurgence
Aprilia boss: Beating Marc Marquez in MotoGP title fight “the most difficult task we could have”
Marc Marquez believes MotoGP riders will eventually unite, as they do in Formula 1
Massimo Rivola responds to 850cc MotoGP speed concerns: 'What's done is done'
Valtteri Bottas completes three-day jungle ride to Singapore GP: "Your mind starts to play games at night"
No denying it now – the one reason why F1’s ‘horrible’ start in Malaysia could be a good thing
The greatest F1 campaigns with no wins
Three kings: F1's generational stars shone at Sepang
How F1 let a golden opportunity slip at Sepang
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