Is it time?

[djos]

for Webber to join his good mate Alonso over at Ferrari?

I personally think yes, while staying at RBR means keeping an Adrian Newey masterpiece strapped to his backside, I think he really needs to get away from Helmet Marko and the Wunderkind's toxic environment.

Mark would be great for Ferrari for a number of reasons:

A/ He always give's his maximum no matter what happens and really knows how to fight back from adversity (had plenty of practice at it) vs Massa who just seems to give up most of the time.

B/ Webber is regarded as a very good development driver and paired up with Fernando, who is superb in this area, they could help bring Ferrari back to the front.

C/ Webber is a team player and wont do a Kimi on them.

D/ Ferrari would be an awesome place for Mark to finish up his career. (Im not a Tifosi but who the hell wouldn't want to drive for them!)

E/ It would pi$$ of boywonder as Mark would get to drive for Ferrari before him.

[PlatinumZealot]

I think it's time to leave if Webber is at his limit, on the other hand if he can somehow pull out something from somewhere he should stay.

Leaving, while it is best at the moment for Webber, it has dire consequences. If we look at as it stands right now, further tenure in a RedBull will just hurt his career like Alonso did to Massa, so you are right about a poisonous environment. Heck, even if Webber goes to another team he will still look like he is running with his tail between his legs. He will be shamed for life; known as the driver who got destroyed by lilly momma boy Vettel. Not good at all. The only thing that webber can do to save his career is to fight back and fight back hard. Play dirty if he has to because the only thing he has to loose at this point is reputation. I mean take a page from Schumacher and Button.

[Ray]

I think it is time to leave, and I'll piggyback on a great point by smikle. He was back in the Jag family when they turned into Red Bull. Vettel brought the first race win and first championship. They'll never love him like they love Vettel and the longer he stays around, especially with Marko there (who openly professes his predilection for Vettel) the more his welcome will be worn out. It's time to go as long as he can get a competitive seat.

[djos]

I dont think he'd be running away from anything, I think it's becoming incredibly obvious that Mark is getting getting a raw deal atm, it started back last year after Abu dahbi when Vettel got to do all the running in the RB6 on the Pirelli tires. That alone would have provided incalculable information on them imo that Mark didn't get and guess who is having dramas understanding them!

As I see it, if Mark has the option for 2012 of Ferrari (replacing Massa who's been rubbish ever since Schumi stopped holding his hand behind the scenes) or Mercedes (replacing Schumi who's been over doing it ever since he returned) he should take them. Personally I think Merc would be more likely to pickup Hulkenberg tho.

If Neither of those options are available then he should stay put at RBR (Maclaren would be nice but I dont see Jensen or Lewis going anywhere).

[Ray]

Last time he drove a Merc didn't he go airborne down the Mulsanne?

[Byronrhys]

I don't see all the hype about Hulkenberg, If Maldonado keeps it up he'll b doing a much better job than Hulk in a much worse car, he'll b at Force India next year I think though.

Going to Ferrari would just be fulfilling a dream for him and prolonging his career.

[djos]

Last time he drove a Merc didn't he go airborne down the Mulsanne?

Twice, apparently Mark is still popular with Norbert Haug who ran that ill fated program.

[Fil]

F/ By now he'd have to possess invaluable bits of knowledge about the RB6 & RB7, and what makes them tick. What team wouldn't love an insider like him?


But yes. It is time. Time to either retire at the end of 2011, or move on. He's a beaten man at Red Bull now, regardless of why.



Question is though, how does Ferrari gracefully rid themselves of Massa? And is Mark worth taking for just a season (it'd be likely he won't push into 2013)?

Mark would have to be seen as a 'seat-warmer' for somebody of worth in 2013.

[HampusA]

I honestly hope not. Webber should retire after his run at RBR i think.

I would much rather have Alonso and Kubica. That would be probably the strongest duo for next year unless Vettel and Hamilton teams up which is unlikely.

[djos]

For a seat warmer he did a pretty good job of leading the WDC for most of last season.

[Fil]

djos, i specifically meant Ferrari would have to regard him as a short-term option (ie. seat-warmer analogy), whilst waiting for someone else designated for a long-term contract.

We all know in 2010 he was a self-proclaimed, championship leading, 'no.2 driver'.

[andrew]

Webber will not go to Ferrari. Lets face it, he's been in F1 since 2001 and was nowhere until he got his mits on an Adrian Newey car.

Rosberg is the immediate and only viable option for Ferrari for 2012 if Massa is able to escape. If Kubica makes a full recovery he may be an option for 2013. Thereafter Vettel will sadly go to Ferrari once he is finished at Red Bull.

[djos]

Webber will not go to Ferrari. Lets face it, he's been in F1 since 2001 and was nowhere until he got his mits on an Adrian Newey car.

Rosberg is the immediate and only viable option for Ferrari for 2012 if Massa is able to escape. If Kubica makes a full recovery he may be an option for 2013. Thereafter Vettel will sadly go to Ferrari once he is finished at Red Bull.

Webber wiped the floor with Rosberg when they were both at Williams, that Rosberg is beating Shumi now only shows how far he has unfortunately fallen.

djos, i specifically meant Ferrari would have to regard him as a short-term option (ie. seat-warmer analogy), whilst waiting for someone else designated for a long-term contract.

We all know in 2010 he was a self-proclaimed, championship leading, 'no.2 driver'.

Ah, I see what you mean now.

[Byronrhys]

Webber will not go to Ferrari. Lets face it, he's been in F1 since 2001 and was nowhere until he got his mits on an Adrian Newey car.

Rosberg is the immediate and only viable option for Ferrari for 2012 if Massa is able to escape. If Kubica makes a full recovery he may be an option for 2013. Thereafter Vettel will sadly go to Ferrari once he is finished at Red Bull.

Webber wiped the floor with Rosberg when they were both at Williams, that Rosberg is beating Shumi now only shows how far he has unfortunately fallen.

djos, i specifically meant Ferrari would have to regard him as a short-term option (ie. seat-warmer analogy), whilst waiting for someone else designated for a long-term contract.

We all know in 2010 he was a self-proclaimed, championship leading, 'no.2 driver'.

Ah, I see what you mean now.

A frickin rookie who takes joy from that, Its fair to say then Rubens wiped the floor with Hulk and Nick the same with Kubica yet they are rated highly.

[i70q7m7ghw]

Webber will most likely retire when he leaves Red Bull, you can't hold back the clock.

I think he would have been better off retiring at the end of last season, he looked much stronger against Vettel, right now he's taking a beating and I don't think he's going to recover from it.