Mark Webber should look at Ferrari, says Alan Jones

AUSTRALIA'S last Formula One world champion Alan Jones has backed a possible move by Mark Webber to Ferrari.

Webber leads

AUSTRALIA'S last Formula One world champion Alan Jones has backed a possible move by Mark Webber to Ferrari saying it would breathe "fresh air" into his career.

Webber thrust himself into contention for this season's F1 world title on Sunday with the eighth victory of his career and second around Monaco.

Webber has hauled himself level on points alongside Red Bull teammate Sebastian Vettel, with the duo three adrift of Fernando Alonso in his Ferrari.

The suggestion has long been this would 35-year-old Webber's final season with Red Bull, for whom he has driven since 2007.

But given he has been linked with Ferrari as a replacement for Felipe Massa, he could be lured to Maranello for a swan song to his days in Formula One.

Jones, the 1980 world champion for Williams, said driving for Ferrari was something to which every F1 driver aspired and that Webber should consider a stint there.

"Mark has already done one of the two things that most F1 drivers would like to do, and that's win Monaco - the other one is to drive for Ferrari," Jones said.

"I'm sure he'd have a look at it. If he goes to Ferrari, it could be a breath of fresh air. It's very prestigious and something really good to have on your CV.

"He gets on extremely well with Alonso, so maybe that could be a good way for him to go.

"Personally, I think that Mark is with a good team (but) having said that, if he signed on with Red Bull next year, he's still going to have Vettel as his teammate, which is a pretty hard task."

Meanwhile, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner could see no reason why Webber would want to depart Red Bull even if Ferrari came calling.

"Why would he want to leave?" Horner asked.

"He is comfortable in the team. We are only at race six and a lot depends on his motivation and desire going forward which, at the moment, looks very clear."

Webber is on a rolling one-year contract. It is clear no talks have yet taken place on the prospect of staying on for next year, as Horner said: "We're only in May this year.

"Mark is doing a good job, so let's focus on his latest Monaco win and his future will take care of itself.

"We have a very open and straightforward relationship with Mark and this does not change that situation."