Red Bull has turned to its fans to help it decide Mark Webber’s successor.
Team boss Christian Horner recently narrowed down the selection of Sebastian Vettel’s new teammate for 2014 to a shortlist of three — Kimi Raikkonen, or a current Toro Rosso driver. So on Red Bull’s official Facebook page, a survey asking fans which of the three should get the job duly appeared. Finn Raikkonen attracted thousands of votes, while the second most popular choice was Australian Daniel Ricciardo.
Raikkonen was not listening to the rumours on Thursday. “It’s four days ago since you probably asked last time, and nothing has changed,” he said at the Nurburgring. The always-smiling 23-year-old Ricciardo was more forthcoming. “It’s nice to hear some positive things,” he said. “It would be a great position to be in but I’ve still got a bit of work ahead of me.”
Vettel told a German newspaper last week that he will have a say on who is ultimately selected, but he told reporters on Thursday that Red Bull will decide. “It’s not my decision,” said the triple world champion whilst sitting next to Ricciardo, “but as he (Ricciardo) sits here, I would if I could give him the seat. “But equally if Kimi was there, I would give him the seat,” added Vettel. “I think it’s something decided by the team and so far we haven’t really spoken about it.”
Considered an outside chance to replace Webber is Jenson Button, particularly with McLaren struggling so much to pull out of its 2013 slump. Asked if he might consider moving to another top team like Red Bull, Button answered: “I would, if this season was a permanent situation. “But I am convinced that McLaren is simply having a bad year,” he is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport.
Info: GMM, Image: Red Bull Racing
