Webber has history on his side for WDC this year

[John S]

Is history repeating itself? Well I wouldn't bet against Mark making it 3rd time lucky for OZ. 

In 1959, Jack Brabham became Australia's first Formula One World Champion. He won his title in a Cooper, the team's first Constructors' Championship win.

In 1980, Alan Jones became Australia's second Formula One World Champion. He won his title in a Williams, the team's first Constructors' Championship win.

This season, Australian Mark Webber is leading the Drivers' Championship. His team, Red Bull, is currently favourite to win its first Constructors' Championship.

pitpass.com, Today.

[Scott]

Will someone send this to Dieter and Marko so they stop mucking about? 

[Williamsfan]

Fingers crossed for Mark that this all does mean fate is working for him!

[Jericoke]

Will someone send this to Dieter and Marko so they stop mucking about? 

They might get the Austria/Australia thing mixed up though...

[lkjohnson1950]

Webber and Vettel will go to Brazil a couple of points apart and since Ferrari was basically unpunished for team orders, Mark will be ordered to let Vettel through. When he refuses he will be yet another WDC let go by his team for the following year.

Lonny

[Canada Darrell™]

Webber and Vettel will go to Brazil a couple of points apart and since Ferrari was basically unpunished for team orders, Mark will be ordered to let Vettel through. When he refuses he will be yet another WDC let go by his team for the following year.

Lonny

I've only been a fan for 20 years and can't think of a single driver who was "let go" by his team for winning a WDC!? Sure, a few have jumped ship but that was the driver'$ (and agent$) decision wasn't it?

[Scott]

Damon Hill ring a bell?   

[Jericoke]

Webber and Vettel will go to Brazil a couple of points apart and since Ferrari was basically unpunished for team orders, Mark will be ordered to let Vettel through. When he refuses he will be yet another WDC let go by his team for the following year.

Lonny

I've only been a fan for 20 years and can't think of a single driver who was "let go" by his team for winning a WDC!? Sure, a few have jumped ship but that was the driver'$ (and agent$) decision wasn't it?

In addition to Hill... Alonso and Button also changed teams after a WDC.  Schumacher left Bennetton after a double WDC.

[Scott]

But those two were at least offered contracts, but they chose to go elsewhere...I think Damon wasn't offered anything (i.e. He was fired).

[Canada Darrell™]

Yes, I think Hill has been the only WDC dropped by his team recently. The others, as pointed out and I was only saying, left their respective teams for the almighty $.

[Jericoke]

Yes, I think Hill has been the only WDC dropped by his team recently. The others, as pointed out and I was only saying, left their respective teams for the almighty $.

Webber is under contract to RBR for next year.  Seems unlikely that anyone would pay the defending WDC to sit on the sidelines.  I guess that's the advantage of the main sponsor owning the team.

If Mark could secure a ride at Ferrari or McLaren, he'd probably happily let RBR terminate him.  As it stands, very unlikely.

Also, Hill got paid more at Arrows than he was getting at Williams.  I don't know if Frank tried to keep Hill, but I suspect that with Villeneuve in his back pocket, any offers made to Hill must've seemed insultingly low.  In a world of What If, my Canadian point of view is that Villeneuve would've beaten Hill if they'd remained at Williams, in which case, it was a sound move. 

[Scott]

Anyhow...the remark was about what would happen if Mark didn't obey team orders. 

As for Red Bull considering dropping Webber, it is possible, but I think they would be morons after he's shown he has not only the speed to match Vettel, but the maturity to beat him.

As for Webber considering Ferrari or Mclaren - why on earth??  If Red Bull keeps up their development (and Webber is likely to know as well as anyone if that appears to be the case) then they are clearly the team to beat, not Mclaren or Ferrari.  Those two are trying to catch up with each new innovation RBR comes out with.

[Jericoke]

Anyhow...the remark was about what would happen if Mark didn't obey team orders. 

As for Red Bull considering dropping Webber, it is possible, but I think they would be morons after he's shown he has not only the speed to match Vettel, but the maturity to beat him.

RBR signed Mark's new contract AFTER the '#2 driver' controversy began.  They know what to expect from him.  Even if he doesn't follow team orders, I can't imagine they'll be too upset about a WDC.

From a purely practical point of view... if they plan to win a lot of championships with Vettel, they're going to make him want to stay.  If they believe that means mistreating Mark, it seems that's the mistake they're prepared to make.

All along I'd hoped that Webber would be mentoring Vettel.  I don't know if that's the case (or even the intention).  And if he is, he's not doing a great job!  Of course, as a race car driver, he's the best of the bunch. 

If he wasn't under contract for next year, and he barged ahead of Vettel agasint orders, I think there would be more to this.  As it stands, I can't see many scenarios where Webber is cut loose.

As for Webber considering Ferrari or Mclaren - why on earth??  If Red Bull keeps up their development (and Webber is likely to know as well as anyone if that appears to be the case) then they are clearly the team to beat, not Mclaren or Ferrari.  Those two are trying to catch up with each new innovation RBR comes out with.

Sometimes it's nice to be where you're wanted, and treated how you'd like to be treated.  If he's WDC, and feels like RBR is going to make him feel like a #2 driver, why not go to a (potentially) slower car and be happy?  There's no guarantee that RBR will be on top next year. 

(Personally, I'm hoping that F1F1 is on top... just to a) shake things up and b) prove that an F1 team can be built from the ground up in a short time - I can't imagine a better scenario for bringing in new sponsorship and teams into the sport)

[Williamsfan]

Damon did go for negotiations for Williams but the story is his agent asked for way too much money and showed the team very little respect so was promptly shown the door.  However I am sure there are all sorts of stories on this! 

As for Webber, I think he is safe at RBR and a title for him would be celebrated but I cannot help but feel the celebrations would be bigger for Vettel!

[lkjohnson1950]

Frank Williams is well known to believe that a driver is just another component you plug into a car, and they're pretty much interchangable (except for Alan Jones). Mansell left after winning the WDC saying he got no respect from Williams, and I seriously doubt that Haas Indycar paid anything like F1 levels, most people believe he left to avoid teaming with Prost. Prost won the title and promptly left to avoid partnering with Senna. Damon Hill won and left alledgedly over things like his motorhome, passes for his friends and family, not over salary. Williams has never tried overly hard to retain WDC winners

Lonny