Webber could leave Red Bull team

Mark Webber

Mark Webber has not ruled out a move away from Red Bull Racing when his contract expires at the end of this year.

The Australian's fourth-place finish at Monaco two weeks ago lifted him to joint sixth in the drivers' championship and the highest position by a driver outside of the 'big three' teams of Ferrari, McLaren Mercedes and BMW Sauber.

Webber announced last month he was opening negotiations with Red Bull about a new contract with the team he joined from Williams in 2007 – but having become an increasingly hot property with each race since, speculation has started he could be offered a drive by a big team should a vacancy arise.

Asked yesterday – before the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal – whether he was looking around, Webber replied: "Flavio (Briatore) is a good manager – of course, he will look to find the best option for me."

When asked if at this point he was talking only to Red Bull, Webber paused for a few seconds before replying: "Yes."

That said, the 31-year-old insisted he is more than content at being part of a successful Red Bull team – for whom he has scored all 15 points this season, failing to collect only in Melbourne in the 2008 season opener.

"I'm very happy here – and that makes a big difference when you're happy with the guys you're working with, the performance of the car," he said.

"It's reflected in your other duties generally in between grands prix. It's what makes you happy about what you're achieving and it makes it worthwhile – the effort that you go to, to go out and compete at weekends."

With Red Bull tied for fourth in the constructors' championship title with Williams but 37 points adrift of third-placed BMW, joining the elite will not happen this season for the team.

"We can't get third in the constructors' – that's impossible," Webber conceded.

"Fifth and fourth is a big fight with Williams and Renault and Toyota and us. Fourth is absolutely a possibility." Sporting Life