Red Bull confirms Coulthard, Webber for 2007.

To no-one's great surprise, Red Bull Racing has confirmed that David Coulthard will be retained for 2007, and paired with former Minardi, Jaguar and Williams pilot Mark Webber, who quit the Grove team in the build-up to last weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix.

Although the Australian was regarded as a potential Renault driver next season, speculation that he had also been talking to Red Bull surfaced between the German and Hungarian grands prix, and the Milton Keynes-based RBR team added to a busy post-Budapest Monday by confirming that, despite its main sponsor's desire to bring on young talent, he would be joining the retained Coulthard next season.

"We chose him for a number of straightforward reasons," team boss Christian Horner said in a statement, "One, he obviously has undoubted speed and ability, and, two, he appears to have the determination and motivation needed to succeed.

"We're entering an exciting new phase in the short history of Red Bull Racing and Mark was an obvious candidate for us. He's got a good track record in F1 and we're delighted to have secured his services for next year. We believe that together he and David will form a very solid partnership, which will give us one of the strongest driver line-ups in the field.

"David has continued to lead the team well and demonstrated the form he showed during 2005. This season, he achieved the team's first podium in Monaco and has shown commitment, determination and motivation to deliver at the highest level in Formula One. It was therefore an easy decision from both sides to extend the relationship for 2007. He's still one of the best drivers on the grid and we're delighted to have him in the team."

Webber's arrival means that there is no race role for Christian Klien next season, and it remains unclear whether or not the Austrian will remain a Red Bull driver.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank Christian Klien for all his hard efforts for the team over the last two seasons," Horner continued, "He will remain a Red Bull Racing driver until the end of the 2006 season, and we will continue to give him all the support that we can during that time."