THERE'S AT LEAST TWO CANDIDATES TAKING WEBBER'S SEAT

HEIKKI KULTA - Turun Sanomat 12.4 2010

Speculations about next season's drivers are going on strong in Red Bull's camp. There aren't many experts who believe that Mark Webber would drive as Sebastian Vettel's team mate in 2011.

The Australian is the world's best 2nd driver but the bosses of the racing team, Dietrich Mateschitz and Helmut Marko, are for recycling.

In the Australian The Age-magazine Webber's girlfriend and manager Ann Neal gives out the impression that Webber might withdraw from F1 when he is on the top.

– I don't think that Mark wants to just drag along year after year. Because it took him so long to get into F1 I doubt he wants to go through the same long process when withdrawing. Mark wants to retire when he is in a good position, Neil said.

Webber's plans after retirement is to climb Mount Everest and start managering young drivers.

A satisfied Vettel is the most important thing

In rumours they have put in Webber's place both Kimi Räikkönen and Sebastien Buemi.

Vettel is the scale who Mateschitz and Marko listen carefully to. Red Bull is nowadays more and more clearly a one man band and as long as Vettel feels his position is strong he will continue in the team.

Vettel's contract covers also next season. It's clear that Mateschitz would want to continue it straight away.

Vettel is very positive about the idea of Räikkönen coming. It would be different if the team mate would prove to be stronger than him. Then the young German would feel that his position is threatened and the harmony would be bound to break.

That's why Buemi along Vettel would more surely guarantee the working peace of the one man band. On the other hand when thinking of market values Buemi is a choirboy at the most in Mateschitz's orchestra compared to Räikkönen.

It's going to get crowded at Toro Rosso

They need at least one empty seat in Toro Rosso because after Webber the Australian quota in this F1-organisation will be filled with Daniel Ricciardo who drives in the Renault World Series this season.

Jaime Alguersuari has proved with his last performances that he will drive at least to the end of this season.

Source: Turun Sanomat
Courtesy: Nicole