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Not necessarily Webber's last year at Red Bull - Horner

ESPNF1 Staff
February 16, 2011 « Shanghai agrees seven-year Grand Prix extension | »
Mark Webber talks to Red Bull boss Christian Horner © Getty Images
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Mark Webber will not necessarily leave Red Bull at the end of 2011 according to team boss Christian Horner.

After a season of success and also turmoil in 2010, Webber, 34, only signed a one-year contract for this season, saying he wants to gauge his motivation before committing further.

But although the team and Webber were often at odds last year while he was locked in battle for the title with his team-mate Sebastian Vettel, Horner said on Wednesday that a longer future together cannot be ruled out.

"Mark isn't approaching this year like this is his final year," he told the Daily Mail. "We both agreed to keep his contract on a yearly basis at this stage in his career because it's important for us to see he's got the speed, motivation, hunger and commitment.

"All of those things look undiminished at the moment, if anything, burning brighter than ever. So we'll see how this season develops and obviously as we head towards the latter part of the summer then we'll start to talk about the following season."

Horner added Webber is "leaner, lighter and extremely motivated" ahead of the new season.

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