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New Red Bull contract on the cards for Webber

May 28, 2010 13:49 IST

Mark Webber can expect a new Red Bull contract to be heading his way after team boss Christian Horner said on Thursday that he was not looking to change a winning line-up.

"We have been happy with the job that Mark is doing, so why would you change?," he told reporters at the Turkish Grand Prix.

"When we sit down and talk about it, it will be very straightforward," said Horner of the ongoing contract negotiations with the Formula One championship leader who has won the last two races.

The Australian is level on 78 points with team mate Sebastian Vettel at the top of the standings after six races, but ahead on his two race wins to the German's one.

"Mark is an important member of the team, he enjoys driving for the team and we have a great balance between our two drivers. So, it's the usual thing. If it is not broken, don't fix it," said Horner.

"I think that it is clear where our intent is, it is clear where his intent is.

"It is just a matter of sorting out the paperwork with his management, but in the coming weeks I am sure that will be sorted," he added.

CAREER WINS

Webber, the first Australian to lead the championship since Alan Jones in 1981, left little doubt that he wanted to stay with the team who have taken him to all his four career wins.

"It's nice to be in the team after all the work we put in during those tough years, even when I first arrived at Red Bull," he told a news conference.

"You are always hopeful that you get an opportunity to drive a car which is very competitive.

"We know that it's an important part of the job but also as a driver you don't hang around this business that long if you're not performing either," he added.

Vettel, widely seen as a champion in waiting, has a new chassis for the weekend after the team found an unspecified defect in his previous one and looks likely to be Webber's main rival at Istanbul Park.

"Clearly Sebastian is in a good car, he's quick and there's going to be a healthy competition as always," said the Australian.

"There's no secret that we like to beat each other and that's how it should be. It's healthy, a very good balance within the team and Sebastian's had his days in the past where he's been virtually untouchable.

"I hope that they don't happen too much in the future but he's very quick, we know that, and I've got to try and keep those to a minimum. So it's a good battle," he added.

Source: REUTERS
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