Mark Webber was one of Formula 1’s frontrunners during Red Bull’s purple patch, having impressed at Minardi, Jaguar and Williams.
The Australian, who started 215 world championship grands prix, scored nine victories, 13 poles and 19 fastest laps before retiring from F1 at the end of 2013. He then went on to score success with Porsche, winning the World Endurance Championship in 2015 and finishing second at the Le Mans 24 Hours.
That means there were a lot of candidates for a list of Webber’s top 10 drives. Fortunately, the man himself gave us a hand, so here are the picks…
10. 2002 Australian GP, Melbourne
Mark Webber’s fifth place on debut at his home race launches his F1 career
Photo by: Motorsport Images
Car: Minardi PS02
Started: 18th
Result: 5th
Webber laid down a marker on his Formula 1 debut by qualifying 18th for his home grand prix, ahead of the Jaguar team, a Jordan-Honda and Alex Yoong in the other Minardi-Asiatech.
When Ralf Schumacher’s Williams triggered an eight-car collision at the first corner, Webber was elevated to eighth and recalled team owner Paul Stoddart’s pre-race instructions. “Stoddy said: ‘If you could just bring this thing home, that would be phenomenal’.
“It was a dog to drive. I didn’t fit in the cockpit, didn’t have power steering, then a lot of the electronics packed up and I had no diff control, the traction control played up and there was a problem getting the fuel filler flap to open at a pitstop. It seemed a bloody long race.”
Webber’s persistence got him into fifth in the closing stages, but he still faced a challenge to score Minardi’s first points since 1999.
Top 10 Minardi F1 drivers ranked: Alonso, Webber, Badoer and more
“I’m short-shifting and doing everything to stay running in what has become fifth place,” adds the 46-year-old. “And then Mika Salo arrives in the Toyota. Stoddy gets on the radio and says, ‘Under no circumstances let him past!’ So, the pre-race brief has obviously changed!
“I gave it everything, defending into [Turn] 3, and he spins off. I could hear the crowd; they were going mental! I was only supposed to have two races. Stoddy said I could stay for the rest of the year.”
Drive secured, he also famously got to go to the podium on his F1 debut, his fifth place hailed like a victory.
9. 2015 6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas, Austin
The Austin win launched the #17 Porsche’s WEC title charge
Photo by: Art Fleischmann
Car: Porsche 919…
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