But it's odd that if things do go wrong at Red Bull, like clutch problems which have led to many of Webber's starting woes or failed KERS, they tend to go wrong with Webber's car, not Vettel's.
Mark webber f1 driver#
The German has also clearly become the No.1 driver at Red Bull, even though the team won't admit that. Vettel won to seal his first title, and hasn't stopped winning since. He admitted at the time it was his mistake, and it opened up the championship to a three-way go in the final race in Abu Dhabi. He was leading the title race, clear of Sebastian Vettel, when he crashed out late-season in Korea in treacherous, wet conditions. Missing out on the 2010 world championship was the low point of Webber's career. Bad move in hindsight, but a really hard one to pick and it would be tough to blame Webber for making it.īut didn't he butcher a world championship? And what about all those race starts he stuffed up? And of course, Renault won championships in 20. Like playing for crap mid-70s United after George Best left. What he didn't know - nor did anyone else - was they were about to go into terminal decline and become an F1 also-ran. Most would have done what Webber did and chosen Williams. At the time, Williams was a little like Manchester United coming calling - a team with an extraordinary track record of success. Renault was a team in its infancy, with plenty of raw promise but no winning pedigree. He was courted at the time by Renault and Williams. Webber was a wanted man at the end of 2004. What about Mark Webber's career decisions along the way? Did he zig when he should have zagged? Three times Webber has finished third in the drivers' championship, including this season, and departs while still a competitive force. He has lived life outside the helmet his way, on his terms. Webber also never bought into the schmoozing and high-life of F1. His ability to corner fast was perhaps his great strength.
Webber may not have had the flair of others, but he could drive. Eventually after a couple of years, they fought to the pointy end of the grid. He drove for two more struggling outfits - Jaguar and Williams - before going to Red Bull. But Webber drove the wheels off a rubbish car to win attention. Aged 25 at the time, he was a late starter. That was with uncompetitive Minardi, run by fellow Aussie Paul Stoddart, in 2002. When Webber got his big break, he had to start at the bottom of F1. He didn't have rich benefactors to help him along, rather smart and committed ones like his long-time manager and partner Ann Neal, his family, and former rugby great David Campese who famously tipped in a five-figure sum to keep Webber racing through Europe's lower rungs. In a glamorous world where money talks and talks and talks some more, Webber's rise didn't come easy. MORE: Sebastian Vettel rues end of Formula One season | Sebastian Vettel wins, Mark Webber second at Brazilian Grand Prix That suggests Webber is a sportsman Australia can be very proud of, and among our best long-term performers on the world stage. Brabham had 14 GP wins with a 24 per cent podium strike rate, while Jones had 12 wins and a 20.7 per cent. But Webber's overall race record is comparable with the other two. Sir Jack Brabham and Alan Jones are the others. Webber ranks among Australia's three best ever F1 drivers. He also qualified in pole position 13 times. Considering Webber spent just five of his 12 F1 seasons with a front-running team, his strike rate of just under 20 per cent podiums to races is an excellent one. He won nine Grands Prix, with 16 seconds and 17 thirds. Webber took part in 215 races in Formula One - motor racing's four-wheeled pinnacle. Do we embrace him as an Australian champion or underachiever?
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So, Mark Webber has driven his last Formula One race.
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