Webber to retire at season's end

[IndyAndy]

Mark Webber, the greybeard of the F1 Paddock, will step out his seat with Red Bull Racing for the last time & say goodbye to F1 after the checkered flag falls at Interlagos on Nov. 24. The 37 year old Australian will be joining Porsche's return to Le Mans prototype racing in 2014.

www.reuters.com

It will interesting to see just how 'tense' things get over at STR during the rest of the season. As things stand ATM, I would say that Riccardo & Vergne have an equal shot at getting that seat.

 

[Retroram52]

And that is a good segway to go to after an F-1 career. Porsche is really a mainstay in the Rolex series or the LeMans series GT-class and are doing well enough to continue a strong showing in the prototype classes. Those P-1 cars are badass to the core as evidence of the duel between Audi and Toyota in this year's frogland Leman's race.

 

[BoiseStateFan27]

Disappointed to see Webber go, he was my favorite driver

I hope he can end the year strong, he seemed a lot more determined this past weekend, he still has a title shot to go out strong

I might start following Le Mans because of him.

meanwhile in F1 I need to find a new favorite driver for next year

 

[IndyAndy]

So; it's a done deal, then?

already settled (?): Riccardo to replace Webber

We might know by this time next week.

 

[BoiseStateFan27]

So; it's a done deal, then?

already settled (?): Riccardo to replace Webber

We might know by this time next week.

looks like it sir

I saw something earlier that says Raikkonen and Red Bull's attempts to make a deal have fallen apart

 

[Retroram52]

I like what Vettel is doing. Plus he has won an F1 championship on a few occasions.

 

[IndyAndy]

This article seems to confirm BSF27's assertion re: the Kimster:

uk.eruosprt.yahoo.com

I do have to wonder, though: With Vergne actually AHEAD of Riccardo in the points collect business, what is going on 'behind the scenes' that makes Daniel the favorite between those two? - Why is JEV apparently not as well regarded?

Not that it matters. - I'm just curious.

 

[BoiseStateFan27]

I'm a little surprised too, Riccardo seems to be more of a qualifier than a racer he had qualified well but hasn't gotten results from those, Jean Eric Vergne is the better racer.

Riccardo might steal some poles from Vettel but fade back

 

[bored at work]

Kimi's my favorite, so I'm a bit torn. Seeing him at Red Bull would have been great, but maybe he has a better chance to beat Vettel if he's not on the same team. Hopefully Lotus is ahead on the 2014 car because it appears any advantages they had on the 2013 car is pretty much gone

 

[BoiseStateFan27]

Kimi's my favorite, so I'm a bit torn. Seeing him at Red Bull would have been great, but maybe he has a better chance to beat Vettel if he's not on the same team. Hopefully Lotus is ahead on the 2014 car because it appears any advantages they had on the 2013 car is pretty much gone

Red Bull seems to believe they should have a main driver, which is Vettel, with that I don't think Raikkonen fits

there has to be a reason why Webber has so many kers problems and always has pit stops that are slower than Vettel's

 

[IndyAndy]

"Not so fast" says RBR's Christian Horner:

We have not signed anybody yet

 

[Retroram52]

That's is an intriguing point BoiseStateFan27. If there is a dichotomy going on with Red Bull, that does not bode well for their marketing image. I suspect most teams do this anyway especially when they have a past champion in the stables.

 

[IndyAndy]

Finally... Seb sort of offers some words of respect on his soon-to-be former teammate.

Vettel: Webber kept me on my toes