Mark Webber To Quit Formula 1 For Porsche LMP1

mark webber to quit f1
Red Bull Formula 1 racing driver Mark Webber will leave the sport at the end of the 2013 season to join Porsche's LMP1 programme and World Endurance Championship team. The 36 year old was speculated to leave Red Bull, especially after the Malaysian GP fiasco, where team mate Sebastian Vettel disregarded team orders and overtook Webber. It is obvious that Webber has been reduced to playing second fiddle to his Red Bull team mate.

The 36 year old Australian began his F1 career with Minardi in 2002. Later he moved on to Jaguar and then to Williams, finally landing with Red Bull in 2008. Webber has to his credit 9 F1 wins till as of now.

Speaking about his association with Porsche Webber said, "It's an honour for me to join Porsche at its return to the top category in Le Mans and in the sports car World Endurance Championship and be part of the team. Porsche has written racing history as a manufacturer and stands for outstanding technology and performance at the highest level" He added, "I'm very much looking forward to this new challenge after my time in Formula 1. Porsche will undoubtedly set itself very high goals. I can hardly wait to pilot one of the fastest sports cars in the world."

As for the person who will take up the empty slot, the name doing rounds now is current Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen. Kimi's contract with Lotus will expire with the end of the season. If not Kimi, the other names which sound right are those of current Toro Rosso drivers - Jean-Eric Vergne and Daniel Ricciardo. Kimi will definitely be the preferred choice, but Lotus has no reason to let go of their star driver and neither does Kimi have any reason not to renew his contract.

Porsche, meanwhile, will try to relive its 24 Hours Le Mans glory days, with the LMP1 programme. Alongside Mark Webber will be drivers Neel Jani, Romain Dumas and Timo Bernhard.

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Article Published On: Thursday, June 27, 2013, 17:52 [IST]
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