Red Bull to Wait on Webber's Extension

Mark Webber's contract extension with Red Bull Racing should be a no brainer if we are to take into account the Australian's latest results in the series, yet nobody is rushing into a decision. Although both parties are keeping quiet about their future plans, there are still some hints that suggest Mark Webber vs Sebastien Vettel could be in for another season together in 2011.

In case Red Bull and Webber do commit to a contract extension – and that's a considerable “if”, being that Kimi Raikkonen is also heavily linked with his seat – it's only natural to assume the deal would be signed for a single extra season. Webber's last contract extension was signed for a one year also and, given that he's 33 years of age, Red Bull would want to have some extra options from 2012 onwards.

Prior to this weekend's Turkish Grand Prix, Red Bull's team principal Christian Horner admitted that the negotiations for a new deal would not take a lifetime, in case both parties would commit to it in the following weeks.

“If we sat down together on the subject of a contract extension, it would be a pretty short conversation,” said Horner, who is a good friend of Webber (as the two are currently co-owning a GP3 Series team), in an interview with Germany's Bild-Zeitung newspaper.

No decision on such a deal was taken however, and that can't come as a shock to anyone. After all, only 6 rounds of the 2010 F1 season have passed, and things could turn the wrong way for Webber in a matter of races (not that we're trying to jinx the guy). He started the season rather poor, with only 6 points in 2 races, after which he scored 2 wins and one podium in the next 4 races.

Another option for Mark Webber has turned out – according to recent media reports – to be Ferrari, whose driver Felipe Massa is also in his last year of contract with the Scuderia. A switch could be made between those two teams, but it will probably take them until this summer to figure out their lineups for the 2011 campaign.