Webber will quit F1 for Porsche

Mark Webber plunged Red Bull Racing’s plans for the British Grand Prix into chaos by announcing he will quit Formula One at the end of the season.

Mark Webber

Red Bull boss Christian Horner revealed only this week that they were scheduling talks with the Aussie about extending his current deal with the team.

However, Webber told Horner just minutes before it was announced that he was joining Porsche.

Webber said: “Formula One as a category wasn’t on my radar for 2014.

“There were offers but they weren’t a consideration.

“It’s an honour for me to join Porsche on its return to the top category at Le Mans and in the sports car World Endurance Championship.”

Webber, 36, has always had a turbulent relationship with his Red Bull team-mate Sebastian Vettel.

And the two had a spectacular falling out earlier this season at the Malaysian GP when Vettel ignored team orders not to pass Webber on his way to victory.

Webber was livid but says that bust-up had nothing to do with his decision to quit the team.

Kimi Raikkonen, whose contract at Lotus expires at the end of the year, is the hot favourite to replace him.

And the Finnish driver — world champion in 2007 while driving for Ferrari — hinted that he would be keen to join the Milton Keynes-based team.

He said: “I have to discuss it with certain people.

“But I have no contract, which is normal in F1. I have nothing to tell people, when there is I will say so immediately.

“It’s not the first time that there are different options on the table, then you take the one that you think is right for you at the moment.

“It’s hard to say if it’s the right or wrong decision but then you have to live with it, whatever it is.

“But you always want to try to get the best car and Red Bull have shown they have had the best package overall for the last three years.”

Newsletter

Join our mailing list to receive the latest news directly in your email inbox.