Webber and Red Bull

(GMM) Just as Mark Webber's future in F1 seemed certain, new speculation has cast doubt on the identity of his home for next year.

Outwardly, the Australian appears content to stay at Williams and – according to the team's technical director Sam Michael – on the verge of having his 2007 'option' activated by boss Sir Frank Williams.

The 'option', including a pay rise, expires in August, amid rumors that Renault, McLaren, Toyota and Red Bull might be interested in him.

''It is Frank's decision and he is the one who makes the final call,'' Michael – indicating that the team's current lineup is likely to remain unchanged – was quoted as saying by the Herald Sun.

However, the Spanish 'AS' newspaper is telling a somewhat different tale.

It reports that, in Webber-manager Flavio Briatore's negotiations over customer engines next year, both the 29-year-old Williams man and Renault test driver Heikki Kovalainen were promised as part of a deal with Red Bull Racing.