Mark Webber has signed a five-year deal to switch from formula one to Le Mans-style sports car racing from 2014. That is the claim of Radio Le Mans, citing information from the paddock of Sunday's Chinese grand prix in Shanghai, where the 36-year-old Australian endured another nightmare race weekend.
China was just one race on from the 'Multi-21' team orders affair, and where rumours flourished that Kimi Raikkonen is being lined up to replace Webber at Red Bull next year. Earlier this month, Germany's Bild newspaper reported that Webber and Porsche had been in contact about a deal for 2014, when the famous sports car maker intends to race a Le Mans-style LMP1 prototype.
A Porsche spokesman had not denied the Webber rumours, saying only that "Whether and to what extent additional drivers are added (to the existing roster) will be decided at a later date". But AAP news agency quoted a Porsche spokesman on Monday: "There is a test plan (for Le Mans) and for sure Mark Webber is not part of them. We can have perhaps some formula one drivers in the future but it is not necessary."
The latest reports follow wild rumours that Webber's nightmare weekend in China, including fuel woes in qualifying and a wheel falling off during the race, is a Red Bull conspiracy to reinforce his de-facto 'number 2' status. "He (Webber) has no confidence in his employer," wrote correspondent Simon Pausch in Die Welt newspaper. "And who can really blame him?"
But team boss Christian Horner dismissed the conspiracy claims as "complete rubbish". Dr Helmut Marko added: "We don't put a car together for millions of euros only to deliberate sabotage it." Even Mercedes' Niki Lauda had to agree: "No sane person could intentionally put a wheel nut on wrong. The cars do 320kph here and if one flies off, it is literally life or death."
Horner backed Webber - who has pledged to at least see out his 2013 contract - to bounce back. "He'll be fine. He's a tough competitor," he said. (GMM)
Order 2013 Red Bull Racing merchandise here!
Webber signs five-year Porsche Le Mans deal - report
- Published on 15 Apr 2013 11:09
-
0
- By: Rob Veenstra
.
Trending news
-
Why MotoGP legend Marc Marquez chose Verstappen over Spanish driversMarc Marquez has named Max Verstappen as the Formula 1 driver he admires most, placing the Red Bull driver ahead of h...
15 Jun 2026 15:54 -
Aston Martin's new offer to keep Alonso from Alpine moveAston Martin is working on a new contract proposal to retain Fernando Alonso beyond 2026, according to multiple repor...
15 Jun 2026 14:52 -
What Ferrari's president told Hamilton after Barcelona winFerrari chairman John Elkann has publicly thanked Lewis Hamilton after the seven-time world champion delivered his fi...
15 Jun 2026 13:51 -
Why F1 boss wants Alonso to race for years to comeStefano Domenicali has delivered a public endorsement of Fernando Alonso, describing the two-time world champion as e...
15 Jun 2026 12:49 -
Piastri reveals who's the toughest rival he's ever racedOscar Piastri has named Max Verstappen as the best opponent he has ever raced against in Formula 1, choosing the four...
15 Jun 2026 11:47
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
Test calendar
Circuit de Catalunya - Winter testing
-
Jan 26
I. Hadjar
- 1:18.159
-
-
-
Jan 27
M. Verstappen
- 1:19.578
-
-
-
Jan 28
A. Antonelli
- 1:17.362
-
-
-
Jan 29
G. Russell
- 1:16.445
-
-
-
Jan 30
L. Hamilton
- 1:16.348
-
-
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
-
Feb 11
L. Norris
- 1:34.669
-
-
-
Feb 12
C. Leclerc
- 1:34.273
-
-
-
Feb 13
A. Antonelli
- 1:33.669
-
-
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
-
Feb 18
G. Russell
- 1:33.459
-
-
Feb 19
A. Antonelli
- 1:32.803
-
-
Feb 20
C. Leclerc
- 1:31.992
-
-
World Championship standings 2026
Pos
Driver
Team
Points
Pos
Team
Points
Related news
Give your opinion!
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
-
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
-
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia
Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
Team profile
- Team name Red Bull Racing
- Base Milton Keynes, Leafield, Austria
- Liam Lawson
- Sebastian Vettel 1
- Sebastian Vettel 1
- Sebastian Vettel 1
- Sebastian Vettel 1
- Daniel Ricciardo 3
- Sebastian Vettel 5
- Isack Hadjar 6
- Pierre Gasly 10
- Sergio Perez 11
- Sebastian Vettel 15
- Yuki Tsunoda 22
- Daniil Kvyat 26
- Max Verstappen 33
- 907,972 comments on Red Bull Racing
687 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Red Bull Racing
Replies (0)
Login to reply