Webber: I'm stayingposted in F104 | 03 | 2011

AUSSIE MARK WEBBER, far from being on the verge of walking out on Red Bull at the end of this season — as many pundits had reported — has instead confirmed he is fully focused on a long-term future with the reigning champions.

Of course during, and following the testing and demanding 2010 season — which saw him lose the F1 world championship to team-mate Sebastian Vettel, and regularly cross swords with team boss Christian Horner — there were even rumours the Buckinghamshire-based driver would walk out on F1.

But as the teams prepare to head for barcelona next week for the final pre-season F1 test, Webber confirmed he's fired-up for 2011 and extending his stay not only in F1, but at Red Bull. So, does he see his future tied to Red Bull?

"I would believe so," he admitted. "I want to continue – any driver wants this – racing towards the front and hanging out with these punks ... week in week out.

"To race with them is very rewarding and enjoyable. Of course you have nerves at the time. There's not a guy in the pit lane who doesn't have nerves. They'd be lying if they told you they didn't.

"It's what gets you out of bed. That's what a competitor goes through and that's what you enjoy." And in typical Aussie fashion, he laughed off the reports that he wasn't happy with the team.

"Obviously we've had a few headwinds here and there within the team," he continued, "but to have two drivers do what we did last year is a unique situation and one of them might not – was not – supposed to have been in that situation.

"I hope I can continue to work hard for Red Bull. They know my reputation is that when I do things, I do them to the best of my ability at all times. And they know that I will do that again."

Keep up-to-date with all the latest news by following is on twitter.com/scotcars

Jim McGill

Photo: Getty Images