Sources: Formula1 Official Webesite
Just hours after Red Bull announced veteran driver David Coulthard would retire, the team have confirmed they are to extend the contract of Mark Webber to the end of the 2009 season. Webber joined Red Bull in 2007 after spells with Minardi, Jaguar and Williams.
“I’m very happy to have signed up for another year with Red Bull Racing so early in the season,” said the Australian. “As far back as the middle of last year, it was very clear to me that I enjoyed working with the team, playing my part in its development and helping it move forward. So far this year, our reliability has improved and that’s allowed us to exploit our performance. The progress the team has made in the last ten months has been excellent and I am looking forward to carrying that momentum through to the end of the season.
“Continuing with Red Bull Racing for 2009 was a very easy decision for me to make, as I enjoy being part of this team and that has shown through in my driving. It’s very difficult to predict how any team will perform in twelve months time, but we have some clever people here, with a stable team and I believe 2009 will see us in even better shape for next year, when the technical regulations go through a major change.”
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner added: “Earlier in the season both parties expressed a desire to continue working together and so it was a very quick and short discussion that led to an extension of our agreement. Mark has driven fantastically well this year. He has really demonstrated that he is a world class driver and this year the team has been able to give him the tools to endorse that fact.
“While all our efforts are currently concentrated on maintaining our fourth place in the constructors’ championship, the next challenge facing us is to make the big step and challenge the top three teams and we believe Mark is absolutely the right guy to have in the car to help us achieve that.”
Red Bull are yet to confirm who will replace Coulthard and fill their second race seat alongside Webber.
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