- 11 May 08, 11:02#43035
Mark Webber says that he has opened contract talks to stay with the Red Bull Formula One team next season.
"I am free next year but I am massively keen to stay here, obviously," said the Australian after qualifying in sixth place for Sunday's Turkish Grand Prix.
"What I love about this team is that I am employed to drive the car.
"If I have to do 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."
Webber, whose team mate is Briton David Coulthard, has secured all of Red Bull's eight points so far this year and has scored for three races in a row.
The 31-year-old, who joined from Williams at the end of 2006, has yet to win a Grand Prix with third place his highest finish to date. He was fifth in Spain two weeks ago.
He said he was "massively motivated" to perform at Red Bull, a Renault-powered team well funded by Austrian energy drink billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz and with top designer Adrian Newey on board.
I've always said I won't be around forever fighting for 12th, 13th or 14th
Mark Webber
However, Webber also added that without such confidence in the future, or the chance to secure a top drive, he would walk away from the sport.
"I've always said I won't be around forever fighting for 12th, 13th or 14th," he admitted.
"I'll just go and do something else. I have no interest in doing that whatsoever any more."
"Being alongside (Renault's double world champion) Fernando (Alonso) in Barcelona, that's good and motivates you during the week," continued the driver.
"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."
Webber said morale was high, despite Red Bull's place in the standings.
"Everyone is very excited about today's qualifying but I always try to keep a bit of a level head on it as well," he explained.
"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.
"We are going to smash a wasps' nest up next year with the new regulations, the KERS (kinetic energy recovery systems) and slicks," added Webber.
"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."
Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1 ... 394168.stm
Published: 2008/05/10 17:41:56 GMT
© BBC MMVIII
I remember when Mark had the option to drive for a better team then Jaguar, but he stayed loyal. Hope this doesn't backfire on him as well, Red Bull are looking good and with Adrian Newey looking after the technical stuff I would expect them to keep rising...
"I am free next year but I am massively keen to stay here, obviously," said the Australian after qualifying in sixth place for Sunday's Turkish Grand Prix.
"What I love about this team is that I am employed to drive the car.
"If I have to do 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."
Webber, whose team mate is Briton David Coulthard, has secured all of Red Bull's eight points so far this year and has scored for three races in a row.
The 31-year-old, who joined from Williams at the end of 2006, has yet to win a Grand Prix with third place his highest finish to date. He was fifth in Spain two weeks ago.
He said he was "massively motivated" to perform at Red Bull, a Renault-powered team well funded by Austrian energy drink billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz and with top designer Adrian Newey on board.
I've always said I won't be around forever fighting for 12th, 13th or 14th
Mark Webber
However, Webber also added that without such confidence in the future, or the chance to secure a top drive, he would walk away from the sport.
"I've always said I won't be around forever fighting for 12th, 13th or 14th," he admitted.
"I'll just go and do something else. I have no interest in doing that whatsoever any more."
"Being alongside (Renault's double world champion) Fernando (Alonso) in Barcelona, that's good and motivates you during the week," continued the driver.
"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."
Webber said morale was high, despite Red Bull's place in the standings.
"Everyone is very excited about today's qualifying but I always try to keep a bit of a level head on it as well," he explained.
"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.
"We are going to smash a wasps' nest up next year with the new regulations, the KERS (kinetic energy recovery systems) and slicks," added Webber.
"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."
Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1 ... 394168.stm
Published: 2008/05/10 17:41:56 GMT
© BBC MMVIII
I remember when Mark had the option to drive for a better team then Jaguar, but he stayed loyal. Hope this doesn't backfire on him as well, Red Bull are looking good and with Adrian Newey looking after the technical stuff I would expect them to keep rising...
7 Times
its how Redbull rolls hehe 
