Webber to quit Formula One at the end of the season

Raikkonen leading contender to replace Australian at Red Bull.

SILVERSTONE: Mark Webber confirmed yesterday what many close observers suspected when he announced that he will be leaving Red Bull and Formula One at the end of this season to switch to sportscar racing with Porsche’s LMP1 team.

The Australian, who will turn 37 in August, had been expected to make a move ever since his Red Bull teammate, triple world champion German Sebastian Vettel, disobeyed team orders to ‘steal’ victory from him at the Malaysian Grand Prix in March.

Webber made the announcement by posting a Porsche statement on his website markwebber.com.

“It’s an honour for me to join Porsche at its return to the top category in Le Mans and in the sports car World Endurance Championship and be part of the team,” he said.

“Porsche has written racing history as a manufacturer and stands for outstanding technology and performance at the highest level.”

Red Bull said separately that a decision to replace Webber would be made later in the season.

But Finland’s Kimi Raikkonen, the 2007 world champion with Ferrari who returned to Formula One with Lotus last year after a spell in rallying, is expected to be a leading contender.

At 33, he retains the pace and has the race craft to be a good replacement for Webber even if Vettel could be reluctant to adopt his allegedly carousing lifestyle.

Another Australian, Dan Ricciardo, currently with Toro Rosso, could also be in the frame if he rises to the challenge in the second half of this season and Raikkonen rejects the move.

Born in Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Webber has started 203 Grands Prix, winning nine. He has secured 11 pole positions and recorded 15 fastest laps.

Webber said he was excited to take on a new challenge but had always intended to leave.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner added, “His achievements in Formula One are extensive and I am sure he will continue to push hard and build on that record until the end of the season.

“We support his decision, he has been an excellent addition to the team since joining us in 2007 and we wish him all the best in the next stages of his career.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28^th, 2013.

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