Webber and Coulthard confirmed as RBR drivers for 07.

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Mark Webber will race alongside David Coulthard at Red Bull in 2007, the team confirmed on Monday afternoon.

While Coulthard has looked likely to extend his stay with the squad in to a third year for some time, speculation grew over the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend that Webber would be his team-mate for next season.

Although Renault had seemed his most likely destination after it was announced he was to leave Williams after two seasons last week, he will now team up with the Scot at RBR next year.

Team boss Christian Horner explained the team's decision to retain Coulthard and hire Webber in a statement.

“I’m very pleased to be able to confirm our driver line up for next year," he said.

“David has continued to lead the team well and demonstrate the form he showed during 2005.

“This season he achieved the team’s first podium in Monaco and has shown commitment, determination and motivation to deliver at the highest level in Formula One.

“It was therefore an easy decision from both sides to extend the relationship for 2007. He’s still one of the best drivers on the grid and we’re delighted to have him in the team.

“Looking to Mark, we chose him for a number of straightforward reasons.

“One, he obviously has undoubted speed and ability, and two, he appears to have the determination and motivation needed to succeed.

Horner belives that the capture of the 29-year-old to race alongside the experienced Scot will give the team one of the strongest driver line-ups on the grid in 2007.

“We’re entering an exciting new phase in the short history of Red Bull Racing and Mark was an obvious candidate for us.

“He’s got a good track record in F1 and we’re delighted to have secured his services for next year.

“We believe that together he and David will form a very solid partnership, which will give us one of the strongest driver line-ups in the field.”

Horner also confirmed that current second driver Christian Klien would leave the team after two years.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Christian Klien for all his hard efforts for the team over the last two seasons," he said.

"He will remain a Red Bull Racing driver until the end of the 2006 season, and we will continue to give him all the support that we can during that time.”