Alonso and Ferrari together until 2016

Maranello, 19 May - Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro announces that it has renewed its technical and racing agreement with the driver Fernando Alonso up to the end of the 2016 season.

“It is a great pleasure to have renewed our agreement with a driver who has always demonstrated a winning mentality even in the most difficult circumstances, commented President Luca di Montezemolo. “Fernando has all the required qualities, both technically and personally to play a leading role in the history of Ferrari and I hope he will be enriching it with further wins very soon.”

“I am very happy to have reached this agreement, said Fernando Alonso. “I immediately felt comfortable within Ferrari and now it feels to me like a second family. I have the utmost faith in the men and women who work in Maranello and in those who lead them: it is therefore natural for me to decide to extend my relationship in the long term like this, with a team at which I will no doubt end my Formula 1 career one day.”

Source: Ferrari.com

Schumi vows to see out his Merc contract

Michael Schumacher insists he is not ready to throw in the towel following another difficult start to the season

A lot was expected of the seven-time World Champion when he came out of retirement in 2010 to sign a deal with Mercedes GP. However, he failed to live up to expectations last year and finished a disappointing ninth in the Drivers' Champions - 70 points behind team-mate Nico Rosberg.

Although there has been a marked improvement this year, he is still finding it difficult to match the performances of Rosberg.

There have been suggestions that Schumacher could pack it in before his contract expires in 2012, but he is having none of it.

"I will fulfil my three-year contract with Mercedes after which I will work as a representative of the team's brand," he told Germany's Bunte.

He added: "I am on a mission to take Mercedes GP to the top step of the podium. Fighting for 10th place is not always pleasant. I expect to be in a better position soon."

Although he is confident of improving, Schumacher also admits that being 42-years-old "is not the same as 25".

Source: Planet-F1

Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button could be at McLaren 'for five years'

Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, the two McLaren drivers, could continue their partnership with the team for "another five years", the team's team principal, Martin Whitmarsh, believes.

Whitmarsh said that the pair's relationship was so competitive that it could withstand the pressures of pursuing world titles in Formula One.

He was speaking as McLaren arrived in Shanghai for the Chinese grand prix this coming weekend. "We have two drivers that do really have a particular bond. They like working together and are both enjoying it," Whitmarsh said of Hamilton, 26, and Button, 31.

Button, said Whitmarsh, could stay with McLaren for "another five years at least" and Hamilton seemed so comfortable with McLaren that the younger driver could keep the combination intact.

"I can't think of two drivers who are better communicators than Jenson and Lewis. And we've got both of them."

Source: The Guardian

NASCAR - Kimi Räikkönen will pay $ 100,000 per race

Kimi Räikkönen is finalizing an agreement with the team of Kyle Busch in the NASCAR Truck Series driving a Toyota Tundra. A deal to be finalized in the coming days.

The agreement will include between three and five races this year. Three races and two races farms optional depending on the results of the 2007 F1 world champion. Räikkönen then begin his career in Charlotte.

Note that Räikkönen arrives in paying his wheel. Without Kyle Bush knows exactly where the money comes. "My contract with Kimi is personal, for the budget, yes he has money behind him, but I do not know where that money comes from. " Kyle Bush launches U.S. media.

Kimi Räikkönen will pay approximately between 300,000 and 500,000 dollars in total, $ 100,000 race

Source: TomorrowNewsF1
Courtesy: _TaniaS_

Saku Koivu combined Gillett's and Räikkönen's NASCAR-path

Foster Gillett, who lured Kimi Räikkönen into NASCAR-challenges was following his future star driver's grips in the rally in Portugal, which he also attended.

At the same time I got offered a chance to explain some backgrounds to Räikkönen's surprising switch when Gillett gave Turun Sanomat an exclusive interview.

NHL-star Saku Koivu had his share in Gillett and Räikkönen making contact.

– We owned Montreal Canadiens for nine years. I attended every game and lived with the players in both down- and uphills. The most challenging and critical situation I have ever experienced was Saku's battle against cancer.

– At that time we were the team-owners for the first year. I was 23-years old. We didn't know well, Saku and I, but that period connected us very closely. My family did all they could to help Saku win his battle. It was a worthy victory. Saku is alive, he is doing well, he has a wonderful family and still plays magnificently.

– That victory also spiced our eternal friendship and mutual respect. Saku is a skillful leader on ice and a great man as a human being. He gave a face to Canadiens organisation for many years. We went through some rough times but he never lost his will to try. To me Saku is one of the most inspirational sport figures of all times, Gillett praised.

Although both left Montreal they still kept in touch.

– When I came to the NASCAR-circles Saku knew it and called on a regular basis to hear how it goes for us and if he could do something for us.

– Then one day I was thinking what I and our sponsors should do to get forward. The idea of offering Kimi Räikkönen co-operation was born. I didn't know how it would work out in practice so I called Saku. Saku assured me he would be happy to help and he gave me the contact information I needed in order to get in touch with Kimi.

– I called to Finland immediately, we met in Miami and now a few months later we have chosen our joint path and are at the moment looking at the right moves at this point, Gillett said.

– We have made many plans over how to combine Kimi's rally- and NASCAR-schedules. We have really got our feet wet so to say. Lets see how it starts going and how Kimi feels.

Driver-centered racing

Räikkönen's switch to NASCAR offered a news bomb all around the world.

– The sport is its own small world, Gillett thinks.

– Kimi is known all around the world and he is a popular sport star. I hope that Kimi's decision to come over the Atlant to struggle as a pioneer in new challenges also wakes up other top drivers, sponsors and top engineers to follow him.

What does Gillett expect from Räikköen as a NASCAR-driver?

– It will become clear in time. Of course I have my own theory about how it could go.

– When they in Europe talk about over- and understeering, we again use words tight and loose. With a tight the front pushes when you turn into a corner and with a loose the rear again is loose. The more tight, the more physically the driver has to turn the wheel to the corner.

– I know that Kimi has drove on so many different tracks and rallies and slided sideways so often that the looseness will feel very familiar to him. I would assume that he feels quite comfortable in a car like that.

– From what I have understood about Kimi's history he doesn't like a tight car. The situation will become clear in time but I think he will have an advantage of it in the beginning.

– NASCAR is very driver-centered because the cars are almost identical and the difference between the faster and the slower is very small and laptimes are tightly bundled. Therefore the driver makes the difference as long as he gets the right equipment. There is no computer, no telemetry. In NASCAR the driver himself is the computer.

Marketing by driving

Räikkönen's image is a silent Iceman. How will Kimi fit in the American marketing mentality?

– The way you drive talks for itself. You don't have to blabber there. The way you drive and the way others drive against you brings out your character and that fascinates the audience. Kimi is an incredible personality and all our organisations are thrilled over him being part of this program.

– I know Saku's steel character and know its part of his Finnish nature. I believe that Kimi is made of the same wood, Gillett emphasises.

Turun Sanomat, Faro

HEIKKI KULTA

Courtesy: Nicole

Red Bull set to sign Vettel through 2014

Sebastian Vettel is close to agreeing a contract extension with Red Bull.

That is the claim of Germany’s Sport Bild, reporting that the reigning world champion will sign up through 2014.

Currently, the 23-year-old’s deal is set to expire at the end of this season, even though an ’option’ is expected to also keep him with the Milton Keynes based team in 2012.

But team boss Christian Horner and owner Dietrich Mateschitz - although binding Mark Webber for the 2011 season only - have expressed eagerness to keep Vettel for a much longer term.

The 2010 title winner has recently been musing a future switch to grandees Ferrari or Mercedes, but Sport Bild said Red Bull is offering him a new retainer of EUR 10 million per year.

The German newspaper Bild said the figure is closer to 12m per year.

The report also said Vettel will be given more free time, for example by limiting his PR appearances.

Sport Bild said the deal could be announced mid next week.

Dr Helmut Marko confirmed the talks: "We are in the talking phase and nothing is signed yet. It’s going to take some time yet."

It is also expected that Adrian Newey will stay at Red Bull until at least 2014.

"We have bound until and including 2014 all of our most important pillars," Marko added.

Meanwhile in Barcelona, the last test day of the 2011 pre-season for Ferrari, McLaren, Williams and Mercedes is close to a complete wash-out.

It has rained too much even for meaningful wet-tyre testing "and there is no sign of improvement on the horizon", said Ferrari.

Source: Nextgen

Vettel 'locked in' to Red Bull

A results clause in Sebastian Vettel’s contract means the reigning world champion is unlikely to leave Red Bull at the end of this year.

Having become F1’s youngest ever title winner in 2010, the 23-year-old German has been linked with a high profile move to Ferrari.

Vettel remains under contract for 2011, but it was believed that the ’option’ relating to 2012 was exercisable by either the driver or the Austrian team.

But in an article published by the Red Bull-owned Speed Week magazine, it is revealed that if Vettel wins a prescribed number of races this year, and finishes the championship in the top three, he will be locked in for 2012.

The editorial said that all the speculation about Vettel’s future beyond 2011 was "written without knowledge of his contractual situation" regarding the 2012 option.

"There is an option based on the results," Red Bull’s Helmut Marko confirmed. "We will not just let a top driver go."

Source: ESPNF1

Kimi's rally contract might take a long time

Turun Sanomat 25.11 2010 20:31:27

More than one rumour has been dwelling around the 31-year old Finn driver Kimi Raikkonen's doings next year.

Steve Robertson has together with his father David Robertson worked hard to ensure their protégé a job as good as possible for season 2011.

- Of course we've always wanted to decide about the next season sooner than later. Sometimes it's just not possible. Hopefully we will know something by the end of November, in which direction we are going, Robertson describes the situation to Turun Sanomat.

- Kim's mind is though in rally, the manager says.

Does Kimi's negotiating department have any more links to F1?

- We have not talked with anyone in F1. Kimi has not closed the door to F1. Never say never if the right offer still would come, Robertson said.

Santander made some room for Fernando Alonso in Ferrari for this year already and Raikkonen had to pack his suitcase in Maranello.

How does Robertson think that Kimi would have done in Alonso's car?

- I think that Kimi would have done pretty much the same way as Fernando did. Fernando drove a great season and I don't want to take anything away from it. Don't take this the wrong way but I think that Kimi would also have a done a good job with that car.

- The whole Ferrari team always works hard as a team. At one stage it looked like Ferrari will lose their position in Championship-battle but they hit back again. That team always fights and that's why they always fight until the end for the championship, Robertson said.

Then what about Räikkönen's first WRC-season seen from the manager's point of view?

- It was as difficult in every way as we expected also. The switch from F1 to WRC requires a lot and getting used to it takes a long time. From Kimi's point of view it was unfortunate that he made the switch as a F1-champion and it lifted the outsiders' expectations up in the roof. They thought that let's give him a couple of rallies and after that we get results.

- One has to be a realist. Success in rally is directly based upon the experience you gain there - not on experience from some other serie.Kimi's competitors have rallied throughout their whole life. Kimi again has raced single-seaters all his life. The difference is like night and day.

- It requires a lot of getting used to so that you learn to drive with the co-driver based upon what you hear and not based upon what you see like in F1, Robertson says.

Turun Sanomat

HEIKKI KULTA

Courtesy: Nicole

Vettel can break new contract if Red Bull stops winning

Dietrich Mateschitz has invited Sebastian Vettel to sign a long-term contract guaranteeing him a competitive car each season.
New world champion Vettel remains under contract only to the end of next year, and last week he nominated Ferrari and Mercedes as "the past, present and certainly the future of Formula One".

"But this (move) is still a long way away," he wrote in a column for Bild newspaper.

Red Bull mogul Mateschitz thinks Red Bull is safe so long as it continues to deliver the young German a top car.

"If not, we would let him go even if he had a contract," he told Welt am Sonntag newspaper.

And Mateschitz told the Cologne tabloid Express: "Seb wants to drive for Ferrari some day. We will make it as difficult a decision for him as possible."

Dr Helmut Marko stood on the podium with Vettel in Abu Dhabi, and even he admits that the lure of Ferrari for a F1 driver is strong.

But the Austrian does not think the Italian team will want to "hurt" Fernando Alonso by pitting the Spaniard against Vettel any time soon.

"We all know the political sensitivities at Ferrari. And he (Vettel) has seen with us that he has a comfort factor.

"He needs a team that doesn't throw a knife in your back at the sign of trouble," said Marko, Red Bull's motor racing consultant.

"Let's be clear: there is not going to be a ten-year contract, because we are not able to guarantee we will have a competitive car for that long. And Sebastian cannot guarantee that he will always be comfortable with us.

"But in the medium term, the next three or four years, we are firmly planning to be with him," he revealed.

Source: Motorsport.com

A Renault-Lotus deal could unlock Robert Kubica contract

Robert Kubica could be about to find himself free of his Renault contract, while Mike Gascoyne questions Group Lotus' F1 strategy.

Group Lotus is reportedly looking to get involved with the Enstone based team in a EUR 60 million deal that could involve the outfit being renamed Lotus-Renault in 2011 and beyond.

With the French carmaker Renault SA's involvement also reportedly changing, the situation could have knock-on effects for a range of existing team contracts, a report in Autosprint claims.

One of those contracts could be that of highly-rated Polish driver Kubica, who reportedly "would be free to choose another team".

On his hand, Mike Gascoyne has questioned Group Lotus' apparent intention to enter formula one next year in collaboration with the Renault team.

Mike Gascoyne is the technical boss at the team currently known as Lotus Racing, but the official naming license has been revoked by Group Lotus for 2011 and beyond.

This year's Lotus Racing cars have also run with branding of the Group Lotus owner Proton, but Gascoyne's boss Tony Fernandes is reportedly dismayed the sports car maker did not embrace the opportunity to tie up with his team, which will use Renault engines in 2011.

And Mike Gascoyne is now confused about the reports linking Group Lotus with a three-year EUR 60 million title sponsorship of Renault F1.

"If they want to advertise their road cars, why spend so much money on it? With us, they could do it free of charge," the Briton is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport.

The German report said Group Lotus is currently running at a loss, meaning it is essentially subsidised by Malaysian tax-payers due to its Proton ownership.

"The cynic might say they are going to blow away taxpayer money in formula one," said Auto Motor und Sport.

Source: Auto123

Lotus to confirm new Trulli contract before Korea

Confirmation of Jarno Trulli's extended stay at Lotus next year is due before the forthcoming Korean Grand Prix.

That is the claim of the Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat, insisting that the Italian's current teammate Heikki Kovalainen has already penned a new deal for 2011.

It was reported from Suzuka that Trulli, 36, was bullish about the future, even though it had been expected that Lotus' 2011 lineup would have been confirmed by now.

Turun Sanomat said Finn Kovalainen - who is currently staying in Kuala Lumpur at team chief executive Riad Asmat's house - signed his new deal on the Sunday morning of the Italian Grand Prix last month, but that Trulli's salary talks were ongoing.

The report added that Trulli still hasn't signed a contract, but that news on the driver front is sure to be announced before Korea.

Lotus has been making many announcements recently, including the termination of its Cosworth contract, an altered name for 2011 and the Red Bull technical deal.

Confirmation of the Renault engine deal is still pending.

Lotus joked about the situation after qualifying was rained off at Suzuka last Saturday, revealing that the team "has nothing to announce for the first time in several weeks".

Source: Motorsport.com

McLaren keen to approach Vettel at end of contract

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh has revealed he attempted to poach Sebastian Vettel in 2008 and that the Red Bull driver is still on his team's radar.

Whitmarsh was highly critical of Vettel at the Belgian Grand Prix, describing him as a "crash kid" after punting Jenson Button out of the race.

"Under pressure this year, Sebastian is making just too many mistakes," Whitmarsh told Sport Bild. "Also his collision with Mark Webber in Turkey, for me, was 95% his fault."

But when looking around for a replacement for Fernando Alonso at the end of 2007, McLaren offered then Toro Rosso rookie Vettel a deal that was vetoed by contract holders Red Bull.

"I am open and honest enough to admit it," Whitmarsh confirmed. "Sebastian is one of the great and promising talents, and we at McLaren wanted to have him. We were not able to sign him at that time."

Vettel is now signed up with Red Bull Racing until 2012.

"If he continues to develop so fantastically, then at the end of his contract I will try once again to get him," revealed Whitmarsh.

Source: ESPNF1

Webber may not race in F1 beyond 2011

Mark Webber as a contract at Red Bull until the end of 2011

Mark Webber has revealed that he may only be in Formula One for one more year if he wins the world championship.

Webber, who currently leads the drivers' standings, has a contract with the Red Bull team until the end of 2011. But the Australian told Brazil's weekly Esporte Espetacular programme that he could not guarantee he would be on the grid beyond then.

"I cannot guarantee that my head will be in the same place in 2012," said Webber. "For sure I want to go for the championship. I know that it changes people's lives, changes the person and I want to know how it feels."

Webber added that there is more to life than Formula One, and that he would also like to be a mentor to young people.

"I want them to realise that they can dream higher and achieve. Maybe I will do a little mountain climbing, who knows.

"Definitely [I will do] some more sporting challenges before I get too old and return to Australia to drink red wine."

Source: ESPNF1
Courtesy: Saif

Räikkönen still quiet on 2011 options

Kimi Räikkönen is refusing to commit either to the world rally championship or to Formula One for the 2011 season.

The Finn switched to the WRC with Red Bull-sponsored Citroen in 2010, after Ferrari bought out the remaining year on his F1 contract.

His rally contract is for 2010 only, and there has been speculation that he might return to Formula One next season perhaps alongside Robert Kubica at Renault.

But in an interview with Turun Sanomat, the 30-year-old insisted he did not move to rallying because he lacked opportunities in F1.

"It's not that I had no offers there (in F1)," he is quoted as saying. "If I had wanted to be there now, I am sure I would have been driving.

"But there was nothing sensible, so I chose something else."

When Räikkönen was asked if he is therefore leaning towards staying in rally, he answered cryptically: "We will see. There are still a number of things to be done and it may be that nothing happens."

Rumours indicate he might stay in rallying in 2011 but change teams.

Source: Motorsport.com

Webber admits F1 'hunger' might not last

Mark Webber has admitted he might not be "hungry enough" to extend his career beyond 2011.

The Australian has signed on with Red Bull for another season, with some suggesting the short contract extension is a sign of slight tension between him and the Austrian-owned team.

But Webber, 33, insists he only wanted to commit for one more year.

"I am taking each year as it comes now," he is quoted by Auto Bild Motorsport.

"In two years, perhaps I will not be hungry enough anymore," said Webber. "But that doesn't mean I'll end my career in 2011.

"If you had asked me in 2005 if I would still be in formula one in 2011, I would have said 'no way!'

"People think I'm under pressure because I have to fight each year for a contract, but that's not right."

Webber admitted a future move from Red Bull to another team is "rather unlikely".

He also confessed he is not sure why he is so competitive at the wheel of the RB6, having won two races and is still within sight of the championship lead despite his frightening Valencia crash.

"Why? No idea," said Webber, when asked about his consistency and speed in 2010.

"One thing; in 2009 I was not a big fan of qualifying with full tanks, while this year I'm back in my element with the light cars in Q3," added Webber, who on early Friday morning stunned onlookers by completing a F1 pitstop in front of London's Houses of Parliament.

Source: F1 Complete

Massa's Blog: Ferrari, my “other” family

Posted by Felipe Massa

As you have possibly heard already, I will be racing for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro until the end of the 2012 season. I am delighted that we have reached this agreement, as I really feel as though everyone in Maranello is part of my other family, with our relationship going much further than just a working partnership. From a purely professional point of view it is great to know what I am doing so early on in the current season, which means I can now concentrate a hundred percent on the rest of this year’s races.

I have arrived in Montreal, ready for this weekend’s Grand Prix and I have to say it’s nice to be back after Formula 1’s year away, because this is one of the nicest race’s of the year, with the whole city making all of us feel very welcome. After the race in Istanbul, I went back home to spend a few days in Sao Paolo and I have taken a few days to get here, as I had to attend some events for Ferrari team partners along the way. Thanks to Shell, I made my first ever visit to an off-shore oil rig, just over a hundred kilometres away from the Brazilian coast line. It was a very interesting experience and it was incredible to see how complicated is the extraction process and management of the crude oil on the platform. When I was at the control desk, it reminded me of looking at the telemetry from our cars when we are on track: every parameter can be studied in real time 24 hours a day. Here too, teamwork is the key and each individual has to work in harmony with everyone else to get the job done as well as possible. They are together almost all the time for at least two weeks at a time and it’s vital that every member of the group feels responsible for what they do and is ready to help those around them. It’s the very same in a Formula 1 team. Instead of flying north to Canada after this unusual day, I had another stop over to make, this time in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, for a promotional appearance with our partner Philip Morris and from there, I finally took another long flight to Montreal.

Even though I like the circuit here, with the challenge of running in low downforce configuration on a narrow track that is an unusual mix of a race track and street circuit, I have not had much luck in Canada. In fact, my best result dates back to my final year with Sauber in 2005, when I finished fourth. The last two races here were particularly tough for me: in 2007, I was penalised for leaving pit lane when the red light was on and the last time we were here, in 2008, there was a problem with the refuelling at my pit stop, which cost me at least a podium finish, but my car was really working well and I managed to move up from the back of the pack to finish fifth at the flag. This year, I hope we have a better time and that should be possible, because I expect our F10 to be more competitive than in Turkey. A good race should be on the cards, as the track has some similarities to Melbourne and Sakhir, where we were front runners. But as usual, we won’t really know where we stand until the end of Friday’s two practice sessions.

Source: Massa's Blog - Ferrari.com

Alonso welcomes news of Massa's new contract

Fernando Alonso has welcomed the news that his current teammate Felipe Massa will be staying at Ferrari at least until the end of 2012

It had been rumoured that the Spaniard's friend Robert Kubica, or Red Bull's Mark Webber, might switch to the Maranello based team to replace Brazilian Massa, 29.

"I am very pleased," Alonso is quoted by Ticionline, "because it means the same group will be working together for another two years.

"Stability is very important to the success of a team," he added. "I feel very well with Felipe there is a lot of respect between us and that creates the harmony that is necessary to be together for the long term."

Alonso also played down reports that he is ruing a lack of development with the F10 car since winning the season opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

"It is not right to say that the development stopped; the few tenths to Red Bull has been the same, so that means we have been improving, as have they.

"The truth is that in Spain we did not take the step forward that we expected, while others moved ahead," he said.

Alonso, 28, also acknowledged that the work on the F-duct system has greatly occupied the relevant engineers.

"I think it has been useful to work on it, although we have not been able to exploit this work completely effectively.

"I see that other teams have also had difficulties, while those (McLaren) who had it from the beginning retain the advantage," he added.

Source: Motorsport.com

Horner cools contract talk

Red Bull Racing principal Christian Horner is adamant that the team are not in contract talks with Mark Webber, saying they are relaxed about the future of the new drivers' championship leader

Webber powered away to a Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday and reports before the race had suggested that Horner had been in talks with the driver's agent.

Webber's management team were seen entering into discussions with Horner ahead of the 33-year-old Australian's Monaco Grand Prix triumph, which propelled him to the top of the drivers' championship standings, and later emerging with beaming smiles.

But Horner maintains Webber's future has yet to be discussed, although if that is the case, he has certainly done himself the power of good with his back-to-back wins over the past two weekends.

"The team and Mark are very relaxed about the situation," said Horner. He is an important member of the team and he is driving fantastically well at he moment. He enjoys driving here, and we enjoy having him.

No talks

"But we have not spoken and have no real interest in speaking with any of our drivers, so when the time gets to it, we will sit down and look at the paperwork."

Horner acknowledged Webber is in the form of his career, underlined by the fact he has won in Spain and Monaco from pole to flag, a total of 144 consecutive laps in the lead.

"I said to Ann (Neal), his partner, 'I don't know what you have been giving Mark for breakfast, but please keep giving it to him'," joked Horner.

"His form has been exemplary in the last 10 days, and at two very different tracks. You can tell he is completely at one with his car and his confidence is high."

Although Webber and Vettel are tied on 78 points at the top of the championship - the former ahead on countback by two victories to one over the latter - and Red Bull now lead the constructors' title race, Horner is fully expecting a backlash from their rivals.

Opposition

"It's very early in the championship, and it's foolish to underestimate your opposition, especially quality teams like Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes," said Horner.

"They are teams with great pedigrees, and there is still a long way to go." Horner is also expecting it to be a nip-and-tuck battle between his two drivers, with no advantage given to one over the other at any stage.

"The best situation is to have both the drivers at the front of the field," added Horner.

"We treat them fairly, with the priority to beat everybody else, although I am sure between the two of them we will see the ebb and flow from now until the end of the season."

Source: SkySports.com

Red Bull in no hurry to re-sign Webber

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner insists he is in no rush to sign Mark Webber to a new contract, despite suggestions over the weekend a new deal had been agreed.

Webber's management team were seen entering into discussions with Horner ahead of the 33-year-old Australian's Monaco Grand Prix triumph, which propelled him to the top of the Drivers' Championship standings, and later emerging with beaming smiles.

But Horner maintains Webber's future has yet to be discussed, although if that is the case, he has certainly done himself the power of good with his back-to-back wins over the past two weekends.

"The team and Mark are very relaxed about the situation," said Horner.

"He is an important member of the team and he is driving fantastically well at the moment. He enjoys driving here, and we enjoy having him.

"But we have not spoken and have no real interest in speaking with any of our drivers, so when the time gets to it, we will sit down and look at the paperwork."

Horner acknowledged Webber is in the form of his career, underlined by the fact he has won in Spain and Monaco from pole to flag, a total of 144 consecutive laps in the lead.

"I said to Ann (Neal), his partner, 'I don't know what you have been giving Mark for breakfast, but please keep giving it to him'," joked Horner.

"His form has been exemplary in the last 10 days, and at two very different tracks. You can tell he is completely at one with his car and his confidence is high."

Although Webber and Vettel are tied on 78 points at the top of the Championship - the former ahead on countback by two victories to one over the latter - and Red Bull now lead the Constructors' title race, Horner is fully expecting a backlash from their rivals.

"It's very early in the Championship, and it's foolish to underestimate your opposition, especially quality teams like Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes," said Horner.

"They are teams with great pedigrees, and there is still a long way to go."

Horner is also expecting it to be a nip-and-tuck battle between his two drivers, with no advantage given to one over the other at any stage.

"The best situation is to have both the drivers at the front of the field," added Horner.

"We treat them fairly, with the priority to beat everybody else, although I am sure between the two of them we will see the ebb and flow from now until the end of the season."

Source: Planet F1

Webber in 'no rush' for new Red Bull deal

Mark Webber is F1's man of the moment, but on Saturday he was not in the mood to confirm the latest paddock rumour.

In the space of a few months, the Australian has been linked with a looming retirement and a 2011 Ferrari seat, and the latest whisper is that he has signed an extension of his contract with Red Bull.

But in Monaco, after scoring his second consecutive pole position within a week, the last-start winner played a straight bat.

"Certainly haven't come to any agreements yet but there's still a long way to go in terms of what to do for next year," said the 33-year-old, the first Australian since Sir Jack Brabham in 1967 to be on pole in the Principality.

And if he wins on Sunday, leaping towards the very top of the drivers' standings, it will be the first Australian win in Monaco since Brabham more than 50 years ago.

"We've worked very hard over the last few years, Red Bull and myself to get into this situation.

"I'm actually in no real rush to make any big decisions myself; also I think both of us are very happy with each other, a lot of trust with each other, so let's see how it goes, there's plenty of time," added Webber.

Source: F1complete