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SILVERSTONE, England -- Mark Webber stunned Formula One when he said on Thursday hes leaving the series after this season to race Porsche sports cars. Webber said at the British Grand Prix hes signed a multi-year contract and will compete in Porsches new LMP1 sports prototype at the Le Mans 24 Hours and in the world endurance championship next year. He has struggled this season, failing to win a grand prix and is fifth in the drivers championship, 63 points behind Red Bull teammate Sebastian Vettel. The German is on course for a fourth consecutive title. Webber first raised doubts about his future with Red Bull after Vettel ignored team orders and overtook him for victory at the Malaysian GP in March. But he insisted on his website that the controversy had nothing to do with his decision, adding that "Ive had a personal plan. Ive stuck with it. This is the next chapter." Red Bull confirmed Webber was leaving and said it would make a decision on a replacement later in the season. "I am sure Mark thought long and hard before making what has no doubt been a very difficult decision," Red Bull principal Christian Horner said. "His achievements in Formula One are extensive and I am sure he will continue to push hard and build on that record until the end of the season. "We support Marks decision, he has been an excellent addition to the team since joining us in 2007 and we wish him all the best in the next stages of his career." Among the favourites to replace Webber would be Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen, who is a good friend of Vettels. The Finn said he would enjoy racing alongside Vettel but said he "still had no answer about" whether he would remain at Lotus or replace Webber in 2014. Webber said a return to F1 was "highly unlikely" though he acknowledged he did have some opportunities to remain in the series before he settled on Porsche. He said he had no regrets in a career that had its "ups and downs" and would especially miss the camaraderie of fellow drivers and the feeling that comes with driving an F1 car. "I realize F1 is seen as the absolute pinnacle of motorsport and Ive worked with some incredible people, in particular (Red Bulls) Adrian Newey," Webber said on his website. "Ive driven in some of the toughest and most challenging conditions and circuits, and against some incredible drivers which Ill continue to do until the end of the year. Will I miss some of this? Yes, of course, but time doesnt stand still for anyone and its time to move on to my next challenge." Since joining F1 in 2002, Webber has won nine races and had 36 podium places during a career that also includes stints with Williams and Minardi. Webbers best season came in 2010 when he just lost a four-way battle for the title that was eventually won by Vettel. The Australian started strong last season with victories at Monaco and Silverstone but then tailed off and only had two podiums the rest of the way. At 36 and his age increasingly becoming an issue, there was talk that Webber needed a strong start in 2013 to retain his seat and give him any hope of winning a first title. McLarens Jenson Button and Ferraris Fernando Alonso, a close friend and rival, welcomed Webbers move to Porsche and praised his long career in F1. "Its a good time for him, a good opportunity," Alonso said. "Hes moving to a very prestigious car brand and probably the most famous race in the world together with Formula One. I think he will have a lot of fun behind the wheel as he is doing now with a little less problems (outside the track) that we have in Formula One." Porsche hailed Webber as "one of the best and most successful Formula One pilots of our time." "I learned to appreciate Marks qualities when we were both involved in Formula One," said Fritz Enzinger, head of LMP1. "He is one of the best pilots I could imagine for our team. Im absolutely delighted that we have such an experienced and fast regular driver onboard from 2014." He has raced twice before at Le Mans, including in 1999 when he had a horrific crash in which he went airborne, flipped and ended in a grove of trees. "Im very much looking forward to this new challenge after my time in Formula One," Webber said in a statement. "Porsche will undoubtedly set itself very high goals. I can hardly wait to pilot one of the fastest sports cars in the world."Greg Colbrunn Jersey . It says Pocklingtons lawyer filed the appeal Friday in a California court. CTV Edmonton also says Pocklington gave a $100,000 cash deposit as part of the conditions of his bail, and that he will be out on bail until his appeal is heard. 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Getting set to go their separate ways for a short Christmas break, the Raptors coach credited his team for their effort on a seemingly impossible three-game road trip, urging them to build on that success when they get back to work at the end of the week.Fernando Alonso says he is saddened by the current state of F1 and lambasted the current saga over proposed changes to qualifying.The Spaniard admits he doesnt mind if the format changes, but thinks it looks wrong for a professional sport to change their plans three times within a week.It is sad, I am sad. I am sad for the sport because it doesnt look right from the outside when in one week we change the qualifying format three times. Well, we pretend to change, but no one officialises anything, Alonso said. During the first pre-season test in Barcelona it emerged that a new continuous knockout format had been agreed by the F1 Commission. This was followed by news from F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone that the new style qualifying could not be introduced until Spain as new software had to be developed.However, there was a further twist during the second pre-season test when it was leaked that a new proposal could see Q1 and Q2 at the season-opening Australian GP adopt the new system, with Q3 remaining as it is.If I was a sportsman from another sport I would look at Formula 1 a bit surprised. I dont think it is right and there are too many changes, added Alonso. The double world champion went on to hit out at the current regulations and blamed them for driving fans away from F1.The complexity of the rules for the spectators is quite high, he added. All my friends here in Spain want to switch on the televisions and watch battles in big cars, big tyres, big noise and enjoy the race like they do with other sports.But with us they need to know know about MGU-H, MGU-K, state of charge, supersoft, mandatory, medium, when you are fourth in the race three laps from the end you need to stop because you have to put another tyre on that is mandatory.Things like that, it is normal that they switch off their televisions. Force Indias Sergio Perez says the F1 drivers are not happy with the proposed rule changes to qualifying, saying it will be too confusing for fans.dddddddddddd Given a choice of qualifying format, Alonso has suggested a return to the single-lap format used in the latter part of 2005. Then drivers took to the track one at a time in the reverse order of the previous races result. They then had one lap to set a time that would decide their grid position.We want simplicity. The one-lap format, super-pole, that we did in 2005 was quite spectacular, said Alonso.Everyone has one lap of television coverage, it is simple, you do one lap and you brake too late, miss a corner and you start 15th. There is some adrenaline on that lap as well.Whatever they decide we will go with as we have done for the last 16 years.Thursday was Alonsos final day in the MP4-31 and he registered 118 laps. Jenson Button will drive the car on the final day of testing at the Circuit de Catalunya. New halo device divides opinion in the F1 paddockThe first race of the 2016 F1 season, the Australian GP, is exclusively live on Sky Sports F1. The race in Melbourne starts at 5am on Sunday March 20.Also See:Button: Biggest gain in 14 monthsNew halo device splits opinion ' ' '