Could Raikkonen line up for Red Bull?

Just as the dust began to settle at Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz has whipped everything back up again.

The Malaysian Grand Prix brought a huge fall out amongst Formula One’s current constructors champions, while F1 champion Sebastian Vettel has had ‘a lot to answer to’ following his decision to ignore team-orders and affectively stab team-mate Mark Webber in the back to steal victory in Sepang.

Many questioned whether or not Mark Webber still had a future at Red Bull following the weekends events, but he went off calmed down back in his native Australia and is set to go again when the Formula One circus rolls into China.

With Webber only ever signing one-year contracts with the team, its always up for debate where Webber will end up season after season. Last year he held talks with Ferrari before signing a new deal with Red Bull.

But what does 2014 hold for 36-year-old and Red Bull?

Even before the weekends high jinx, Webber’s future wasn’t certain, the Red Bull development programme has stuttered in recent years with Webber holding up the progress of the likes of Jean-Eric Vergne and Daniel Ricciardo, who want to follow in the footsteps of Sebastian Vettel in progressing from Toro Rosso and into the Red Bull team.

Many expect Webber to eventually step aside, probably at the end of this season to allow either Vergne or Ricciardo to join Vettel at Red Bull next season.

But owner Mateschitz has come out and stated that Webber will remain an option for 2014, despite the recent dramas amongst the team.

‘Whether he retires, only he will choose but Mark is definitely a candidate for 2014, He is always welcome with us, so too would be a quick junior like Vergne or 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.’ Mateschitz told German magazine Speedweek as quoted by Sky Sports.

But owner Mateschitz would also appear to quite fond of the idea of partnering 2007 Formula One World Champion Kimi Raikkonen with the 2010, 2011 and 2012 champ Vettel.

‘Kimi is cool and fast and always a candidate, he suggested.

So which way will Red Bull go at the end of the season?

It seems unlikely after Malaysia that Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel can co-exist at the same team for another season, so have Vergne or Ricciardo done enough to earn the promotion from sister team Toro Rosso?

Or will they once again drop their development drivers and make a move for Kimi?