FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[Jamie]

FERRARI SEAT ON THE CARDS FOR WEBBER?
Red Bull drivers linked to Prancing Horse


The F1 circus has barely reached Europe, but already the speculation is beginning as to who will be where for the 2011 season.
The latest rumour is that Mark Webber - who is on a rolling contract with Red Bull - could end up with Ferrari next year. Although no doubt Red Bull boss Christian Horner is going to be keen to keep hold of the driver currently leading the F1 world championship...

Red Bull's other driver, Sebastian Vettel, is also keen to make a move to the Prancing Horse - but not quite yet.

"I am very happy with Red Bull, I am not going anywhere else, but in the future, I don't know," Vettel told El Pais newspaper. "I want to fight for the world championship, and if you look at the past, Ferrari has always designed very competitive cars.

"Why not go there in a few years? Ferrari is unlike any other team, it's a legend. There are other brands that achieve great success, but Ferrari is special."

Bernie Ecclestone - known to be a big fan of Vettel - is also said to be keen to see the young German at Ferrari. And what Bernie says has a strange habit of coming true (except for "there will be a British GP at Donington")...

[Denthúl]

The only logical move for Webber is to stay with Red Bull, really.

[Hexagram]

The only logical move for Webber is to stay with Red Bull, really.

[bud]

Thing is when ever a driver does well they always bring up a move to Ferrari. it gets boring after a while especially when this drivers team has the pace setter atm. why would you want to leave a team like that?

[Gaz]

yeh same with Lewis when he won in 08.

I wouldn't blame Ferrari for looking at him, sensible but i bet all top teams are Merc, Renault Mclaren etc..

[EwanM]

Thing is when ever a driver does well they always bring up a move to Ferrari. it gets boring after a while especially when this drivers team has the pace setter atm. why would you want to leave a team like that?

Because it's Ferrari. Not to start an argument, but they are the sport's Grande team. Whether drivers want to go there or not is another matter, but the Media love a good unification between top driver and the Scuderia.

[Jamie]

Thing is when ever a driver does well they always bring up a move to Ferrari. it gets boring after a while especially when this drivers team has the pace setter atm. why would you want to leave a team like that?

Because it's Ferrari. Not to start an argument, but they are the sport's Grande team. Whether drivers want to go there or not is another matter, but the Media love a good unification between top driver and the Scuderia.

True, i can't see Webber there? I can only see Seb or RK.

[Jabberwocky]

Look how much of a lure Ferrari has to F1 drivers. Think how Fisi was like a moth to a Rosso Corsa Red flame.

[Denthúl]

Look how much of a lure Ferrari has to F1 drivers. Think how Fisi was like a moth to a Rosso Corsa Red flame.

To an extent, that's different.

You're Italian, the next race is in Italy, you've been asked to drive for the great Italian team... It wasn't the best move for Fisichella's career, in the sense that he would have had the opportunity to win the next race in Monza. Tonio Liuzzi would have ended up in third place were it not for his retirement, so I'm sure Fisichella would have had potential for more there. However, for Fisichella, driving the Ferrari was a dream and there was the opportunity for it to come true. Besides that, he had already proven his worth with the race in Spa and wasn't getting any younger. He wasn't going to be offered another chance to drive the Red Car.

Webber isn't as old and is still on top of his game. He's also a more consistent performer than Fisichella and is mounting a serious challenge for the title. Red Bull have also shown that they're able to build a good car and keep improving it. In the short time they've been in Formula One, after taking over the Jaguar team which was going nowhere, they have achieved quite a lot. If he wins the title with them this year, or even if not, he should have them as his number one option for next year, because they have a very good base to work from in terms of car design and development for next year; there is every chance that Red Bull Racing will establish themselves as one of the front-running teams for years to come, able to take the fight to Ferrari and McLaren on many occasions in the future. I think Webber would like to be a part of that. If the car is this good next season, he could become a double champion before some of his younger opponents who are often talked about more than himself (although I expect that Seb will be even better next year, too ).

Even putting that aside, there's also the environment and the team's attitude. Webber has looked happier at Red Bull than anywhere else (much like DC did after leaving McLaren). Team and driver are a perfect fit for one another and I certainly don't think I could see Webber enjoying himself as much at McLaren as at Red Bull (backflips in to a pool on top of the McLaren motorhome? You must be kidding! ). I would think that Webber could see out his career at Red Bull, because he is a very fast, talented and experienced grand prix driver and could contribute to multiple world titles for the team, both in the drivers' and constructors' championships.

[Jabberwocky]

I was more on about the alur of driving a Ferrari as a driver and not on the personal side of things between the 2 drivers.

I don't think for one moment that Webber will be a multiple world champion with Red Bull... or with anyone to that point if I think about it. You are right I do see him staying put for a while. Maybe even taking over as Redbulls driver mentor from DC.

[TGLucario475]

He'll be good at Ferrari but he should stay at Red Bull.

[FerrariFan63]

Thing is when ever a driver does well they always bring up a move to Ferrari. it gets boring after a while especially when this drivers team has the pace setter atm. why would you want to leave a team like that?

Same reasons why Button wanted to leave Brawn to go to McLaren. The smaller teams sometimes produce the best car, but this sometimes does not last from season to season. Red Bull might have finally built a critical mass of expertise to not only reach the top but stay there, or they might be a one year flash in the pan.

[myownalias]

Red Bull were talking about extending Webber's contract so I can't see him moving anywhere else as he seems to be happy at Red Bull and fits in with the team well.

[Denthúl]

I don't think for one moment that Webber will be a multiple world champion with Red Bull... or with anyone to that point if I think about it. You are right I do see him staying put for a while. Maybe even taking over as Redbulls driver mentor from DC.

I don't think it will happen, but the point is that it is more than possible and seeing as everything else about the outfit is so right, that's just one more piece that should tempt a driver like Webber. It might just be me, but I would much prefer to win a championship with a team like Red Bull than with Ferrari.

Also, can you imagine Webber in red? It just wouldn't look right!

Besides, I think Bianchi is likely to become a Ferrari driver in the not-too-distant future...

[MAD MAX]

Why wouldn't he, think about it. He's coming up to his sell by date, the differential in salaries between Ferrari and Red Bull I suspect is quite big. If you could get a few more million banked in another top flight team he'd be silly to say no