David Croft, Ted Kravitz, Johnny Herbert and Damon Hill have their say on Mark Webber's decision to leave Formula 1 at the end of the season and debate who could replace him at Red Bull.
How will he be remembered? As a nearly man?Crofty: "In terms of being a title winner, then yes, he was the man who could have gone to Abu Dhabi [in 2010] and should have gone to Abu Dhabi and come back as World Champion, so from that respect yes. "But I think he will be remembered as a gusty, gritty driver, who sadly was up against a formidable team-mate in Sebastian Vettel in his later years. But look at that wonderful drive to fifth place for Minardi [in Australia] in 2002. Look at some of the drives he did at Williams when the car sadly let him down - he should have been winning long before he did at the Nurburgring [in 2009]." Ted: "Two things. Firstly on the title thing, you are absolutely right - Korea 2010, on that rainy day he threw away his best chance of a title. But secondly, my first response this morning when I heard Mark Webber retiring was, 'What a shame,' and that is a response I expect to be echoed up and down the paddock. "This is a motor racing paddock full of kids - most drivers in this paddock are kids - but Mark Webber was an adult, he was a grown up and was respected and loved for that." Who will replace him at Red Bull?
Crofty: "The trouble that Jean-Eric Vergne and Daniel Ricciardo have is that the Toro Rosso they have got is not the car Sebastian Vettel was driving in 2008 to make their mark. Are they good enough? Probably as a number two driver to Sebastian Vettel, but do Red Bull want a number two driver, or do they want a number one driver? Do they want to win a title with either driver or is this Sebastian Vettel's team? "This is going to be fascinating to see who they go for. The big name that we haven't mentioned yet is Kimi Raikkonen. He is out of contract next year, he has been supported by Red Bull in his rallying days and is a great fit in marketing terms and their desire to win. But does Kimi Raikkonen want to come to Sebastian Vettel's backyard and play at Red Bull? You would be a big man if you are Kimi Raikkonen to take that on board but he has the ability to do it." Ted: "I would be surprised if the Kimi Raikkonen deal is not already done. Kimi knows Lotus have never been flush with cash and it is money that talks in F1 - they have recently had to sell off 30 per cent to a foreign investor so they obviously need the cash. Kimi has status at Lotus - he wouldn't have that at Red Bull - but he would let his driving to the talking. I think Raikkonen is favourite for Webber's drive." Johnny, does the move come as a surprise?
Johnny: "No. I spoke to him in China and he told me that he had spoken to Porsche but he said he hadn't done anything. He has a background of racing at Le Mans, he likes Le Mans, he's not afraid of Le Mans and I think he wants to go there to win. "He's 36 and knows he's coming to the end of his F1 career. Porsche are going to be one of the top sportscar teams and they're saying, 'Come and join us'. It's just that the timing is right for Mark to move on. "What happened in Malaysia made it very difficult for Mark to continue." Do you think he was discussing a move to Porsche before Malaysia?
Johnny: "Probably yes. The Porsche thing started last year, and I imagine he was on their list early on." Do you think the fractiousness at Red Bull was a factor? Or is it simply the right time for him?
Johnny: "I think both. He's 36 and still quick - that's not an issue. But there is a point when your F1 career comes to an end and it is that point for him. And it's a great opportunity for him to carry on racing. If he carries on in F1, he would miss this opportunity. If you want to go back to Le Mans, that's the team you want to be with." In China, Webber likened current F1, with its deliberate tyre wear, to the WWF. There is a theory that, in sportscars, you can actually push harder?
Johnny: "I've heard that. But watching Le Mans at the weekend, there was still talk of looking after tyres. There's still an element of it. When I raced there, it was still pretty flat-out. But flat-out in an F1 car and flat-out in sportscars are two very different animals. Driving a sportscar around Le Mans is quite easy. It's not that physically demanding. "With F1 tyres, even when they're off, they're still way quicker than a sportscar. Physically and mentally, it's still tougher." Damon, your thoughts on the news?
Damon: "I think we were all prepared. There was a rumour and I think his timing is very good. He's announced it at the right time, in the right way. Getting into F1 is hard, getting out of it is even harder! "He's done more than he ever thought was probably possible at one stage. He still has a lot to give, although he knows that, in F1, to slide down the greasy pole after being at the sharp end is very demotivating. "I'm a big fan of Mark's. I identify with how tough it is, and how determined he was, to get there. He came up the hard way, never gave up and I think he knows he gave it everything he possibly could. He'll be able to walk away from F1 with a sense of pride, which is really important." Who do you think should replace him?
Damon: "It would fit the brand to have someone like Kimi, who's rebellious - Red Bull-ious! - he'd fit that ethos very well." Raikkonen is a better candidate than either Toro Rosso driver?
Damon:"If you're interested in building a brand and racing in F1, why would you take someone who's not won a grand prix over someone who's won a World Championship? Someone who has shown his prowess - and he's still got it. "You've got a double whammy effect. You don't want Kimi Raikkonen as a loose cannon around the F1 paddock when you could actually have him in your own team." Do you think Vettel would relish the challenge?
Damon: "I think it would be very interesting. It might answer a lot of peoples' criticisms that Vettel has an easy ride with the team, although I don't think Mark's given him an easy ride - I think he's had to fight. "I'm sure Kimi will find out, if he goes there, that Sebastian Vettel is going to be pretty tough to beat. It would be very interesting to watch. The sport has always benefited from two World Champions in the same team, because you know the calibre of the competition both within the team and also the power they have against other teams." Sky Sports News Radio have a special Silverstone preview hour on Thursday night from 7pm. Special guests include Max Chilton, Johnny Herbert and David Croft. Listen at skysports.com/radio or via the Sky Sports Apps