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Red Bull says 'quick' Webber could stay in 2012
Source: Agencies |
February 17, 2011, Thursday
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MARK Webber could stay on at Formula One champion Red Bull after this season if the Australian remains as quick as he was last year, according to team boss Christian Horner.
The 34-year-old Australian, whose hopes of the title were dashed in the last race of 2010 by 23-year-old German teammate Sebastian Vettel, is out of contract with Red Bull at the end of the year.
He will be starting his fifth successive season with them when the championship starts in Bahrain on March 13.
"Mark isn't approaching this year that (as if) this is his final year," Horner said. "I think we both agreed to keep the contract on a yearly basis at this stage in his career because it's important for us to see that he's got the speed, the motivation, the hunger and commitment.
"All of which look undiminished at the moment. If anything, (they are) burning brighter than ever.
"So we'll see how this season develops and obviously as we head towards the latter part of the summer then we'll start to talk about the following season," added the Briton, whose team won both titles last year. "If he's delivering at the same level as he did in 2010 then why not?"
Meanwhile, the FIA is closely monitoring the mass anti-government protests in Bahrain but believes the season-opening race will still go ahead in the Gulf country next month.
Two people died this week after security forces battled protesters who are calling for political reform and greater freedom.
"We're obviously monitoring. There are realities on the ground that we need to accept," FIA Director of Communications Norman Howell said. "Any big sporting event is always potentially a focus for protests in any situation. But the FIA is fully confident, with the Bahrain motor federation, that the situation will be resolved amicably."
The 34-year-old Australian, whose hopes of the title were dashed in the last race of 2010 by 23-year-old German teammate Sebastian Vettel, is out of contract with Red Bull at the end of the year.
He will be starting his fifth successive season with them when the championship starts in Bahrain on March 13.
"Mark isn't approaching this year that (as if) this is his final year," Horner said. "I think we both agreed to keep the contract on a yearly basis at this stage in his career because it's important for us to see that he's got the speed, the motivation, the hunger and commitment.
"All of which look undiminished at the moment. If anything, (they are) burning brighter than ever.
"So we'll see how this season develops and obviously as we head towards the latter part of the summer then we'll start to talk about the following season," added the Briton, whose team won both titles last year. "If he's delivering at the same level as he did in 2010 then why not?"
Meanwhile, the FIA is closely monitoring the mass anti-government protests in Bahrain but believes the season-opening race will still go ahead in the Gulf country next month.
Two people died this week after security forces battled protesters who are calling for political reform and greater freedom.
"We're obviously monitoring. There are realities on the ground that we need to accept," FIA Director of Communications Norman Howell said. "Any big sporting event is always potentially a focus for protests in any situation. But the FIA is fully confident, with the Bahrain motor federation, that the situation will be resolved amicably."
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