Mark Webber: retires from F1 after '13, joining Porsche LMP1 next year

  • Thread starter Wardez
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I'd be very disappointed to see Mark leave F1. Whilst he isn't the guy I support year on year, I'd go as far as to say he's the guy on the grid who most deserves a title who doesn't have one already. The stuff he's put up with at Red Bull over the last 3-ish years is more than an employee should be expected to take.

That being said, if he does leave, I would love to see Kobayashi in that seat. It's not likely, I know, but I'd enjoy seeing what he can do with a good car under him.

Either that or someone like Alonso, just to shut Vettel up a bit
 
Well aware. Not much news coming about anyway lately, just something to add to the speculation.
 
To be honest, I saw this coming the moment that Multi21-gate happened.

Mark's still got a spine and racing spirit to find a seat in another category at a similar level to F1. Unlike other drivers who'd happily play No.2 for a couple of trophies and a paycheck...It'll be a brilliant move for both driver and team.
 
I think Red Bull want Webber for 2014 because of the regulation changes. It feels like it would be bad timing to change your driver line-up for such an important year and with Red Bull having to design a completely new car, maybe it will suit Webber more for a last shot at the title.
 
That's right Centura. I do hope he stays at least one more year.

I mean, just imagine being in his position, how could you not want to sample at least the first year of a new era of F1? Even though, at this point with the Renault sound sample, it will sound kind of awful :/ .
 
TopGearFTW
I'd be very disappointed to see Mark leave F1. Whilst he isn't the guy I support year on year, I'd go as far as to say he's the guy on the grid who most deserves a title who doesn't have one already. The stuff he's put up with at Red Bull over the last 3-ish years is more than an employee should be expected to take.

That being said, if he does leave, I would love to see Kobayashi in that seat. It's not likely, I know, but I'd enjoy seeing what he can do with a good car under him.

Either that or someone like Alonso, just to shut Vettel up a bit
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Vettel would outrun Alonso every time. Then Alonso would start whining about how he's not the #1 driver on the team. Seriously, I can't see that working.
 
Such mixed feelings. I'm both sad and happy for him.

But wow, TIME TO SPECULATE.
 
That is completely brilliant if true. I'd like to see Button move to WEC as well.

It's a lot better than the joke that is F1 these days.
 
Well, silly season is in full effect now. Can't wait to see where Kimi goes along with Allison and a few other key staff around different teams.

Yeah, Genii has a ton of money now and can theoretically pay Kimi out the ass to stay, but if you were Kimi and Dietrich was dangling the keys to an RB10 (or whatever next year's car is called) in your face, what would you do?
 
Kimi might do it, he might not. He looks comfortable at Lotus, as it is, and it would take quite a lot of convincing to make him leave.

braunracing88
Vettel would outrun Alonso every time. Then Alonso would start whining about how he's not the #1 driver on the team. Seriously, I can't see that working.
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Don't bet on it. Alonso has shown a similar ability to eke that extra tenth out of a car in qualifying over his team-mates. A qualifying head-to-head might go Vettel's way, or it might go Alonso's.

Of course, Alonso would never put up with having a team-mate with the potential to beat him.
 
Kimi would seem the most likely choice, can't see Horner turning round and saying 'We'll take one of the Toro Rosso boys or Buemi'

Eventhough Lotus is a pretty well funded team I can't see him staying there if the keys to a Red Bull are put in front of him. Would be good to see someone take a good fight to Vettel.
 
If Kimi or Alonso does go, then who replaces them?
 
There's always a chance that RBR will suck next year though with all the regulation changes. Newey's definitely been one to stumble with new reg's, it's like he either gets it really right or really... strange, not really wrong, but just off. Depends a lot on how the tires are though. Aero gonna be pretty much the same... but yeah.
 
That's a shame. For the last few years he's been the most capable and consistent of the second drivers, in my opinion.

Still, he's probably timed it well.
 
It was sorta inevitable, like Prost V. Senna. Prost being Webber, he just got fed up of the upstart.

All the best to him at Porsche though.
 
Well, Prost at least got his title... :D I don't know if I'd put Webber on that level, but then, he didn't have a class-leading car in his prime.
 
That's just bad luck Webber again. Williams sure could have been awesome in 2005, easily. But the whole BMW engine and Theissen drama really put a wrench in their program. He joined Williams at exactly the wrong time, had it been one year earlier, who knows.
 
im a Webber fan but, wasn't it Vettel that put him on to Porsche(road cars, anyway)? kind of ironic eh? All the best to him. Wonder how Alonso will take it, being his buddy and all? it's like when Stoner left, Rossi and Lorenzo felt a bit down because of the respect as competitors. makes me think how many other racers are thinking if they should leave as well with the rise of production/Gt/Sports car racing again but, they're professionals. next year is a new era.
 
niky
Well, Prost at least got his title... :D I don't know if I'd put Webber on that level, but then, he didn't have a class-leading car in his prime.
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But the rivalry is the same, really. They're on the same team, but want to kill each other slowly :)
 
Samus
Kimi has to be huge favourite.
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Only to his fans.

Red Bull will probably recrit in-house. For one, going to another driver from another team effectively admits that their super-expensive Young Driver Programme has failed.

Secondly, they want a driver who can win World Championships - World Constructors' Championships. They want a driver who can bank enough points to win the Constructors' title without threatening Vettel in the Drivers' standings.
 
Raikkonen or a guy from Torro Rosso seem very likely.

I'd have loved Seb Beumi but he's went to Toyota's LMP1 team.
 
Happy for him. He'll do good AND he will enjoy the (fantastic) world of sports cars racing.


PS - Rolling starts included :D
 
05XR8
im a Webber fan but, wasn't it Vettel that put him on to Porsche(road cars, anyway)? kind of ironic eh? All the best to him. Wonder how Alonso will take it, being his buddy and all? it's like when Stoner left, Rossi and Lorenzo felt a bit down because of the respect as competitors. makes me think how many other racers are thinking if they should leave as well with the rise of production/Gt/Sports car racing again but, they're professionals. next year is a new era.
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http://www.fiawec.com/

That is the championship he will race in along with a picture of the car he will drive.
 
Thought this was humorous:

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