Red Bull have announced that Mark Webber has signed a one-year contract extension to race for them next season.
World championship leader signs one-year contract extension
Red Bull have announced that Mark Webber has signed a one-year contract extension to race for them next season.
With Sebastian Vettel already committed to the Milton Keynes-based team for 2011, the decision to retain the Australian means Red Bull will field an unchanged line-up.
Webber currently leads the world championship having won back-to-back races last month in Spain and Monaco.
However, his attempt to win a third grand prix in a row ended when he and Vettel collided whilst disputing the lead in Turkey.
"It was an easy decision to remain with Red Bull Racing. We began talking very early this year and were in a position to sign by the Barcelona Grand Prix," said Webber, who joined the team from Williams in 2007.
"The decision to extend for a further year was a mutual one; it's widely know that I'm not interested in hanging around in Formula One just for the sake of it and at this stage of my career, I'm happy to take one year at a time.
"I continue to feel very comfortable here - I have a fantastic relationship with the whole team and the factory at Milton Keynes feels like home.
"It's been incredible to be part of the team as it's moved forward from a mid-field competitor to one that is challenging for the championship."
The 33-year-old added: "I hope we experience more success together in the future and achieve our ultimate goal of winning the world championship."
Straightforward
The announcement will also put an end to speculation that 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen, who left F1 at the end of last season to join the Red Bull-backed Citroen junior rally team, will partner Vettel next year.
Team principal Christian Horner added: "The decision to retain Mark was very straightforward. He is an important member of our team and is currently in the best form of his career, as the current leader of the drivers' championship.
"The team is extremely happy that the driver pairing of Mark and Sebastian will remain unchanged for a third season in 2011."
