Red Bull boss names Kimi Raikkonen, Toro Rosso pair & Mark Webber as 2014 options

Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz has admitted that Kimi Raikkonen would be a candidate for a 2014 drive at the team - but also made clear that Mark Webber "definitely" remains in contention despite the team orders controversy of Sepang.

"He is always welcome with us, so too would be a quick junior like [Jean-Eric] Vergne or [Daniel] Ricciardo from the Toro Rosso team. Sorry, I know it's a diplomatic answer which leaves everything open, but that's how it is. Everything else is pure speculation." With Raikkonen's contract at Lotus believed to run to only until the end of the current season, the 2007 World Champion would appear as things stand to be an available target for Red Bull, with the Finn already having previously been sponsored by the energy drinks firm during his two-year stint in rallying. The option of promoting one of their two junior drivers at Toro Rosso arguably remains the more straightforward choice. However, neither Vergne nor Ricciardo have yet clearly positioned themselves as the heir apparent to Webber. Speaking in the latest edition of F1 Racing magazine, Vergne made clear his overriding goal was to take the next available seat at the World Champions. Asked if he thought he was the driver who would replace Webber, the Frenchman replied: "I'd love to be that guy - and I'll do everything I can to get there." He then added: "If I perform well then maybe I will get a Red Bull seat. If I am not good enough, they will replace me and I'll lose my place - but I'm here [at Toro Rosso] now, I deserve my seat and I have to prove that to everybody by getting good results."