Contract wrangles cloud Webber's F1 future

HOCKENHEIM, Germany, July 31 (Reuters) Australian Mark Webber is prepared take a pay cut to secure his Formula One future at Williams as today's deadline for the team to take up their 2007 option approached.

The 29-year-old joined Williams at the end of 2004 and can expect a significant salary hike if he is retained for the final two years of the original contract, but with negotiations continuing, the driver may end up earning less than he does now.

''We did basically a four-year deal (in 2004) and Monday is the date where we say yes or no,'' Webber, who is managed by Renault team boss Flavio Briatore, told reporters at the German Grand Prix.

''It's not no (yet), but it's not yes as it was potentially,'' he added.

''But we are trying bloody hard to make it work and I think there's a good chance that we will.'' Asked whether he would take a salary cut, he said: ''Yes''.

Williams, an independent team, operate on a tight budget and slashed their driver costs at the end of 2004 when they replaced Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya and Germany's Ralf Schumacher with Webber and Nick Heidfeld.

Team boss Frank Williams has made clear his admiration of the driver, however.

''I think he's really raised his game,'' he said at the weekend.

''I really think he's done superbly, he really has made a big step forward. He is totally apolitical, which is a rare privilege to have a driver like that.'' RENAULT'S RADAR Webber said a 'fresh relationship' could be the way forward, implying that the existing contract could be allowed to lapse and a new one negotiated for less money than the team would otherwise have to pay.

''We understand the situation the team's in, I think he (Williams) wants to take it (the option) up but now we are in a different situation,'' he said. ''The original plan's not going to work, we have to work something else.'' Webber could also be on Renault's radar, with that team needing to replace world champion Fernando Alonso after his move to McLaren.

Renault are chasing McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen but the signs are that the Finn will be heading for Ferrari, leaving the French team with Italian Giancarlo Fisichella and Finnish test driver Heikki Kovalainen.

Webber did not rule out a switch, although he said Raikkonen called the shots.

''If there is a choice between Kimi and Webber, they'll take Kimi. It's a no-brainer. I've got six points this year. That's the food chain, that's life mate,'' he said.

''We'll see what happens with Michael (Schumacher) and Kimi, we don't know who is going to Renault or McLaren -- there's seats out there.'' Webber said more time could suit all parties.

''I've got to look through how I see what's going to happen here in the future,'' he said. ''They are a good team, a good bunch of guys. It can't be any worse next year.'' Neither Webber, who ran as high as third, nor team mate Nico Rosberg finished at Hockenheim on Sunday. The team are eighth of 11 in the championship with just 10 points.

REUTERS PM VV1537