Mark Webber says that he talked to Ferrari before agreeing to his new deal with Red Bull racing. The Italian team is looking out for a possible change of driver in 2013. Although there has been talk of late that Felipe Massa could still be retained, for the sake of continuity and thanks to to his recent improvement in form, as he has learned to use the Pirelli tyres. Nonetheless, the Brazilian still has only 23 points to Fernando Alonso’s 129. Webber was the obvious choice for the Italian team as he is seen by some in the team as the number two driver yet currently has 116 points to Sebastian Vettel’s 100, which means that Red Bull Racing is far ahead in the Constructors’ World Championship, with 216 points compared to Ferrari’s 152. In recent races McLaren has really struggled and this has added to the rumours that Lewis Hamilton might want to look elsewhere, as his contract with the Woking team is up at the end of the year. he will now become the primary focus of rumours for 2013, but it is still hard to imagine him moving to Ferrari.
“It’s been an interesting few months,” said Webber, “but overall the continuity and desire for me to continue at Red Bull Racing was very strong. My main focus is on this year’s Championship, which is very important. There were discussions with Ferrari, but my decision was to stay here. I virtually know everyone’s shoe size! I know everyone’s names, I know how everyone ticks and I know all the departments which is very, very important for a driver. There’s a whole raft of factors. With Seb, we’ve worked very, very close together for a long period of time now. I think no-one would really have envisaged how long we have worked together, so that’s probably been a bit of a surprise. There are not many team-mates staying together for that long in Formula 1, but it’s proved to be a successful partnership with both of us working very hard with the key technical members of the team. It’s been a potent operation. We’re still competitive when we hit the track, no question about it, especially in 2010 and this year. Last year there wasn’t much racing between Sebastian and I, but in 2009, 2010 and this year, there have been some great battles.”
Webber says that he will continue to race in F1 as long as he is competitive.
“It’s a results-based sport at the front of the grid so the future lies in my own hands. It’s down to me to deliver the on-track results.”
Perez to Ferrari then?
I don’t think he is ready. I think they might keep Massa if he continues to run well
I’m guessing they won’t want to consider kimi again, although given that they were still pay him last year it would pretty much be a contract extension.
Regarding Hamilton, from what I’ve read and seen on TV I think he will stay with McLaren but was surprised this morning to see several sources publishing a ‘Hamilton to Lotus’ story, I take it there is more chance of flying pigs……
I like Massa but how many seasons can he be allowed to start poorly and then get away with a mid season resurgence in form. I would be looking to someone like Di Resta or Kobayashi on a short term deal to see how they go if I was in charge at Ferrari.
Joe,
I have been hearing on UK radio that Webber confirmed for red bull 2013
So does that mean Massa is safe for now?
Di Resta holding out for Mercedes.
Well if we’re going to talk about Ferrari dropping Massa then we should also talk about who they’ll sign instead. It’s no use dropping him unless they can sign somebody who they can reasonably expect to perform better. So who is available to sign AND can be expected to do a better job?
I’d say Massa’s seat is pretty safe for next year.
Agreed. Ferrari will be happy with Massa if he continues to support their constructors goals with podium/top 6 placings regularly. They want a great 2nd driver, not a threat to Alonso and they just don’t seem to like young, untested drivers. They want other teams to break them in, build them up, and then invite them over to Ferrari when the early learning is done (sounds a little too much like a Star Wars Dark Side of the Force metaphor here!). But seriously, if they are hoping to get Vettel in 2014 to slowly take over from Alonso, then Perez at some unspecified point, Massa is probably safe next year.
My head said RedBull my heart said Ferrari,
Massa will probably get a 1 year contract or Grosjean is on a 1 year contract with Lotus who is to say he might not go to Ferrari
Eric Boullier, who manages Grosjean and runs the Lotus team.
yes I forgot about that, good point
But then isn’t Webbers Manager Briatore, there was some discussion in the Renault days about Mark going there but the decision was Williams instead bad move as it turned out.
My point is that even if very unlikely it is possible.
I still can’t get my head around the fact that Webber is still managed by Briatore. He must see something most don’t.
‘Eees a good deal eh Meeester Webbah, err, ‘ow you say.. fair dinkum ?’
I thought after the Singapore scandal that this type of conflict of interest is not allowed any more?
Didn’t Briatore get this ban overturned in court because the FIA didn’t follow some procedure or other? Always surprised with Mark and Briatore. But then some people will do a deal with the devil if it helps their career.
Briatore wanted Webber at Renault, but it was Webber’s boyhood dream to race for Williams and leaped at it first chance he had. Going on previous years form at the time it wasn’t a bad descision. Had some great drives in 05′ Monaco comes to mind. But on hindsight . . . . . hmmm.
Apparently during Alonso’s winning years in ’05 and ’06, every time Briatore walked past Webber in the paddock he’d shake his head at him sadly, or something…
Well you were right, Joe, there were real discussions.
I think if he had started this season much like last he would have moved on to Ferrari.
Do you think that this is also a back up for the possibility of losing Vettel in 2014?
If he can maintain a similar level of performance he would be a good foil for a younger driver to come into the team.
“… a results-based sport at the front of the grid…” – nice dig!
Martin Whitmarsh reckons that Hamilton will re-sign for McLaren.
It is a rather difficult situation. I am quite certain that despite people telling me Seb may have a deal…….I know Fernando would not countenance it. His respect for Mark is a bit like Gilles & Alan in the early 80′s. Alonso is a genius in terms of the mathematics & I really do think he will be crowned a 3rd time this year. Car 2: Why not Mark? He has nothing to lose really. Otherwise there is a fine choice to make & a transfer will become easy for Felipe in those terms (apart from a top team). If I were his engineer though, I would go with him. If it were Sauber for instance, that place is like a family….They also know Felipe.
I think Massa stays with Ferrari. Hamilton goes to Mercedes and Di Resta to Mclaren..
After his win at Silverstone, Mark Webber was congratulated very warmly by Heikki Kovalainen. Has Mark paved the way for Heikki at Ferrari?
Maybe they just like one another
Everyone likes Mark! Well except for Seb and Helmut and most of the german press…
I assumed Heikkis congratulations were mainly because he parked up in parc ferme a lot sooner than most and was nearby. Perhaps I should start reading more into these things though!
Are they not neighbours as well?
I noticed that too, Fastmann! Heikki’s rather the forgotten man of F1 nowadays – I wonder if there was any significance to his gesture?
So Heikki to Ferrari? He’s a solid proven number 2 (McLaren days) and he’s recently rediscovered his mojo.
Then I guess it’s a question of where/if Lewis goes, Renault in place of Kimi, or Mercedes in Michael’s seat?
Which I guess leaves one or two seats up for grabs at McLaren, Renault, or Mercedes for Hulk or Di Resta. I can’t see any other serious midfield contenders for a top seat.
Renault? Will they be back in the sport as a constructor next season? Must be some breaking news I’ve missed today!
Off topic Joe but do you think diResta deserves a seat in a top team, Ive heard his name in contention but wasn’t he beaten by Sutil last year who is quick but not an Alonso.
I get the feeling Di Resta is the new Button. Not that adaptable but probably class of the field in the right car for his style. Also like Button he might be a late bloomer and better after a few years in F1 foll
well i still think hamilton will go to ferrari, preposterous though it sounds at the moment. all the public statements point to him and mclaren eeking out another year together but that’s the point, this is all being played out in public. why??
if they’re not careful mclaren will leave it too late to find another decent driver to fill the gap. that’s what we should be asking, who to mclaren? michael schumacher!
People are getting carried away with all the possible moves but I reckon the top 5 teams will retain their 2012 drivers.
The only one who might be ejected is Massa and the fact that Ferrari are talking to potential replacements (as Webber just confirmed) says to me that Massa is essentially already on the way out. Sure, he had a great weekend at Silverstone but his last 18 months of shoddy performances can’t be forgotten after one or two points finishes. Ferrari and Italy in general demand more from their drivers than a rare 6th or 4th every 20 races.
With Webber out of the question now, that Ferrari drive is likely going to be a matter of massive speculation and in reality it could be any number of drivers who land it. Perez is obviously a man with a chance. Kovalainen rumours have accelerated in leaps and bounds today.
I imagine that Ferrari’s head honchos are now mulling over the idea of luring Michael Schumacher back for a farewell season. If Mercedes are keen on Di Resta, it would be a fitting conclusion to the driver market mysteries if Schumi went back for one last drive in red. Unlikely, but stranger things have happened.
Ferrari seem to coalesce around one dominant type A personality. I realise Schumacher has mellowed since his imperious phase but can you imagine the shockwaves of distorted loyalty if he and Alonso tried to be paired up? It’s basically an Opera waiting to happen!
Why not Di Resta to Ferrari? He has the starting experience and showing good form, it would not be any worse than Massa but with the potential for a long term seat.
Seem like a good fit in a Market place with little movement…
IMHO…do not see any changes in top teams for next season. The difficulty of finding the window and maximizing the current tires is such that moving into a different team and car would require a steep learning curve. Both drivers and teams will be reluctant to undertake this endeavour as no one will honestly be able to determine how long it would take to get up to speed. Couple races, half a season or a full season. In the midfield there maybe some openings for which Alguesari may prove to be the best choice due to his testing role for next years tires.
“he is seen by some in the team as the number two driver yet currently has 116 points to Sebastian Vettel’s 100″
Joe,
Who would you say see him as a number two at RBR?
Marko is obviously pushing Vettel. But that leaves Horner (?) and Newey (does he choose?)?
Horner has business connections with Mark but he obviously does his boss’ bidding and Vettel is the image RBR want (personally I always thought Mark should play up his extreme sports personality which actually fits the Red Bull family more than Vettel but I guess it’s an age thing). I think Newey just likes Vettel because he’s short and light and easier to package a car around as opposed to someone as tall and heavy as Mark. I think Newey would choose a 4foot woman driver ideally so he could distribute weight to his liking!
Mascheitz…. (spelling) seems to like Webber. Horner has been noted to not have much control of the team with the Austrians have more power inlcuding Marko.
Hence why I asked.
I thought Joe would be able to provide a better picture given he knows them better.
I don’t think personal relations really come into it. They have done what is deemed best for the team and what Mark Webber deems is best for Webber. This is how decisions are made in F1, not whether or not they like to go out to dinner together.
I hear via a relative that Webber isn’t actually that popular in the team rank and file compared to Seb, though said relative is on Seb’s side of the garage so maybe he would say that…
But surely some would prefer Webber to be a no 2 and others wouldn’t, and I’m just wondering from you working and being a general f1 guru who are those who support the webber/vettel equal and who wants webber to be no 2?
And if WEB wins the WDC this year? Will the one-eyed Doctor be happy with his boy having No.2 on his car!?
I think in anyhow Massa will go and should go. The last thing Ferrari need is to waste another half season while Massa getting used to tyres.
He is no good anymore and Ferrari already gave him more than enough time and chance to find form.
Heikki is no better than Massa, thanks to him Ferrari won wcc back in 2008.
Alguersuari, Perez, Kobayashi, Di Resta or Sutil. Anyone of them is better than wasting another year with Massa, at least with a new driver you may have a hope that he will improve even if thing not go as desired at season start.
“Ferrari already gave him more than enough time and chance to find form.”
Although given Massa’s personality, cutting the legs out from under him publicly 11 races into his his return probably wasn’t the brightest move on Ferrari’s part…
True, it was not nice but this is usually what happens if one falls too much back of his team mate.
Massa got all the support from Ferrari team when he was racing head to head against Kimi, he was a match to Kimi. Schumacher was better than him as like now Alonso is doing better, so it is a natural case.
Some people who think teams come first may look at it with more tolerate, others who think drivers are main interest may not, it all change from person to person but the realty is, team orders are an integrated part of F1 history.
It’ll be a sad day when they can Massa. Unfortunately he’s not been the same since the spring to the head incident.
Hurrah’s for Webber, even if he spells his name with an extra B.
I believe it’s spelt ‘Carburatori’ en Italia..
)
Is there any suggestion of a Webber-related rift in the lute between Christian Horner and Dr Marko?
Surely by now there must be pointed questions coming out of Fuschl am See on why the Red Bull Young Driver Program has produced lots of Speeds and Alguersuaris, but only one actual star…
Red Bull is doing well for themselves despite your suggested Young Driver Program shortcomings.
I believe Ferrari should replace Massa with Perez. DiResta is a Mercedes supported driver so he is unlikely to go to Ferrari.
Luca DiMontezemolo has said that Perez does not yet have sufficient experience to join Ferrari, yet he has the same level of experience as DiResta so therefore DiResta is clearly not not ready for a Ferrari seat either.
Perez has already scored a couple of F1 podiums, is part of the Ferrari Driver Academy and is 4 years younger than DiResta, so he would be the bettter buy anyway.
I don’t know if you have noticed but do Resta is a Mercedes driver…
This is out of the subject Joe ….. but do you have any new developments on the 2014 engines? We are pretty much through with the first half of this year’s season and then next year will be last time (hopefully!) we will see the current v8′s. I’m sure everyone are on a hustle to develop the new proposed engines. So …. anything??
They are being developed.
joe – i would imagine you’ve seen these two daily mail stories about lewis hamilton in the last couple of days. if not: http://bit.ly/MV8e7Y and http://bit.ly/NllCjC In short he was papped coming out of a nightclub at 4am, 2.5hrs ahead of his carrying the olympic torch in luton on monday, then last night he’s out and about again in the ‘early hours’. it sounds awfully mealy mouthed, i’m not being moralistic, but are these the actions of a man in the middle of negotiating a delicate contract??
These guys need to blow off steam from time to time.
A quick look at this year’s results throws up some interesting trends: only four drivers (Alonso, Webber, Raikkonen and Rosberg) have finished every race, and not surprisingly two of those four occupy the top two slots in the WDC. Only one of the four (Alonso) has finished every race in the points, and not surprisingly he is leading the WDC.
But dig a bit deeper and look at the top performing drivers excluding retirements. Only one driver has been placed in the top 6 in every race he has finished: Romain Grosjean. Once he gets a bit of experience and learns how to stay out of trouble on the opening lap, he is going to be one awesome driver. He has also scored 42% of his team’s total points haul, making him the best No.2 driver on the grid, excluding Vettel
.
I don’t reckon Ferrari will sign him, in view of the Bouiller factor – but they should do!
And don’t forget who Grosjeean’s team mate is. It makes his achievement even more fantastic. Boy does he deserve to win a race.