Porsche says no, everyone else says yes

Porsche insist no contract has been signed to tie Mark Webber to the company’s new chase for outright success at Le Mans which starts next year.

“Mark Webber has not signed a five year contract with Porsche,” claimed a company executive speaking to German newspaper Die Welt.

“Porsche has a squad of ten highly successful works drivers, forming an excellent basis for the occupation of the LMP1 cockpits from 2014.”

In an interview with Auto Action Wolfgang Hatz, Porsche’s research and development boss added: “We still have plenty of time to decide our driver line up.

“We will use some of our own drivers and add some external drivers—we have two cars and need six drivers next year. There is a test plan, and for sure Mark Webber is not part of them.

“For now we are concentrating on the schedule—the plan is a mid-year roll-out of the car, and in the autumn we will finalise our driver combination. What we need is the best combination of drivers that fit together.

“LMP1 is a team sport, and if you have three of the quickest drivers, I am not sure that this is the best way. Yes, we can have perhaps some Formula 1 drivers in the future, but it is not necessary.”

Trouble is, the wider industry isn’t buying into Porsche’s denials. Audi very much believe Porsche “could go in that direction” admitted a team member at the 6 Hours of Silverstone last weekend.

Meanwhile, former Porsche sportscar legend and four-time Le Mans winner Derek Bell shared his view that Webber will leave F1 for Porsche. “I hear he (Webber) has gone,” he told the Huffington Post.

On the one hand seeing Mark help to lead Stuttgart’s charge at Le Mans makes us excited, but we’ll be sad to see him leave F1 when that day comes.

[Source: Motorsport.com & ESPN F1 | Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]