Teams deny paddock rumours that Webber will drive his last F1 race this weekend. Source: Getty Images
RED Bull and Toro Rosso have poured cold water on rumours circling the Formula 1 paddock that Mark Webber could be shuffled out after this weekend's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The rumour suggests the retiring Australian make way for Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull earlier than planned as part of a three-way driver shuffle.
Webber would step aside for the United States and Brazilian Grands Prix so his young countryman can get a head start on his promotion to F1's champion team.
Ricciardo's move would then allow Toro Rosso to give their new signing, Russian teenager Daniil Kyvat, an early debut.
Red Bull's denial was swift and concise, telling German publication speedweek.com: "Mark Webber will drive the last three races for us."
Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost also rubbished the rumour.
"I think it's nonsense, and I know nothing about it ... Anyway, Daniil has no super licence, so how can he race?"
Kyvat will, however, test a 2011 Toro Rosso at Misano in Italy early this month in preparation to drive in Friday practice for Toro Rosso at Austin and Interlagos.
Webber recently conceded that his motivation isn't what it once was as his exit from F1 nears.
"I think towards the end of your career, you probably find little things that convince yourself that you're not enjoying it as much as you were," he told Sky Sports News.
"You're not 22 anymore and that's obvious; I'm 37 and I've done over 215 races at the end of the year, so the juice goes out of the tank a little bit.
"But at the end of the day, I'm still super-respectful of who I'm racing against and how I go about it. I'm still not blasé about competing at this level; I still respect it at this level. But there comes a time when you've got to get that decision right."
Webber returned to the paddock of foot after another mechanical failure in India. Source: AFP
Destined for Porsche's World Endurance Championship program next year, Webber's final year in F1 has not been a happy one.
Mechanical failures have blighted a season where teammate Sebastian Vettel romped to his fourth consecutive world championship.
However, Red Bull's chief technical officer, renowned design guru Adrian Newey, is adamant that both of the team's cars are prepared equally.
"What can I say?" Newey told Auto Motor und Sport. "I can only assure you that the conspiracies are nonsense. The cars are identical.
"It must just be bad luck."
Webber currently sits fifth in the Drivers' Championship standings on 148 points with three races remaining.
01 Nov, 2013
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Source: http://www.news.com.au/sport/motor-sport/red-bull-toro-rosso-deny-plans-to-replace-mark-webber-with-daniel-ricciardo-for-final-two-f1-races/story-fne8930l-1226751036493?from=public_rss
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