Mark Webber to miss Silverstone F1 test as Red Bull alters plan
Mark Webber will not take part in Formula 1's 'young driver' test at Silverstone after Red Bull made a late change to its planned schedule
The Australian, who will leave the team to drive for Porsche in the World Endurance Championship at the end of the season, had been due to test on Thursday afternoon.
Race drivers have been allowed to join this year's test in order to work on Pirelli's new tyres, but AUTOSPORT understands they must run to a strictly-defined Pirelli programme that covers two half-days of running.
With Red Bull keen to evaluate Daniel Ricciardo, and with Sebastian Vettel set to come in on Friday afternoon, Red Bull has therefore reshuffled its plans.
Ricciardo, known to be highly-rated by the Red Bull crew that ran him in the 2009 and '10 young driver tests, will now test on Thursday afternoon.
His performance could be decisive in whether he lands a race seat for next year.
How Red Bull decides second seat
Antonio Felix da Costa, originally scheduled to hand over to Ricciardo for the afternoon, will now test for the entirety of Wednesday and again on Thursday morning, before Ricciardo assumes control.
Carlos Sainz Jr will then test early on Friday, with Vettel replacing him for the afternoon.
Ricciardo will also test for Toro Rosso on Thursday morning, immediately before switching to the RB9.
Lotus has announced that Kimi Raikkonen will not be running at Silverstone this week as the restrictions on the amount race drivers can do at the test make it more beneficial to leave test driver Nicolas Prost in the car for another day instead.
Share Or Save This Story
Silverstone: Circuit of Wales is not viable
Qatar MotoGP: Marquez beats Rossi in action-packed race
Redding: I've got to 'do a Marquez'
What Red Bull's succession plans for Lambiase and Marko reveal about team's F1 future
Wolff admits Mercedes has most powerful F1 engine – and Red Bull agrees – as ADUO returns to spotlight
How Antonelli found half a second to thwart Verstappen in Belgian GP qualifying
Why nationality should be 'no factor' as Haas considers Fornaroli and Camara for F1 2027
F1 drivers raise concerns over 'self-learning' power units – what's going on?
What is holding back Bagnaia in MotoGP 2026?
Why the 2026 F1 cars suit Antonelli's driving style more than Russell
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments