Mark Webber ends his motorsport career
Australian driver Mark Webber has confirmed his intention to retire from motor racing at the end of the current season. He will concentrate on a consultancy role for Porsche, the team with which he won the Endurance World Championship in 2015.
Against all expectations, Mark Webber published a statement today saying that he had decided to end his motor racing career at the end of the 2016 season.
The Australian, who just turned 40, having celebrated his birthday on August 24, made his decision after careful consideration: « Of course, hanging up my helmet is a very big decision to make, but I was fortunate to receive advice from two great personalities, Jackie Stewart and Niki Lauda, on the right timing to make this choice. The time is right. You probably see things a little differently as you age and your priorities in life change. And just like with Formula 1, I want to make this choice for myself. »
Indeed, Webber’s career has been quite eventful. He started in various promotion formulas in England (Formula Ford and Formula 3), before being noticed by Mercedes, which made him an official driver in the FIA GT Championship. This led to his participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1999, where he emerged unscathed from an impressive crash, creating one of the most memorable images in motorsport over the past 20 years.
He will return to the Endurance championships at the end of his career, becoming world champion in the discipline in 2015 driving a Porsche. His crew, consisting of Brendon Hartley and Timo Bernhard, is currently ranked 4th in the championship with 3 races remaining.
In Formula 1, Mark Webber began with a feat by scoring his first points during his first Grand Prix, on his home soil in Australia, driving for Minardi. Quickly identified as a very fast driver in qualifications but lacking consistency in races, he struggled to build a record worthy of his talent at Jaguar and then Williams. He joined the Red Bull team in 2007 and contributed to its development, initially alongside David Coulthard, and later Sebastian Vettel.
All the best to @AussieGrit, who will hang up his helmet at the end of 2016. Thanks for all the #F1 memories… 💪🏽 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/v6NUHN6tMT
— Formula 1 (@F1) 13 octobre 2016
In 2010, the Australian was in a position to win the world championship title. He entered the final race, on the Yas Marina circuit as part of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, in second place in the championship. But a race mistake and a touch with the wall would deprive him of a title and offer it to his teammate and rival, Sebastian Vettel.
From that moment on, the rivalry between the two men continued to grow, with the spectacular clash at the Turkish Grand Prix in 2010 lingering in memory. The Australian, who failed to win a title, decided to end his Formula 1 career at the end of the 2013 season, marked by the controversy of the “Multi 21” team order, which was meant for Webber to win in Malaysia but was ignored by Vettel.
In 215 Grand Prix, Mark Webber will have claimed 9 victories, achieved 13 pole positions, 42 podiums, and set 19 fastest laps. Notably, he will have won the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix twice, in 2010 and 2012.
The Australian will now focus on a luxury consulting role for Porsche: « It’s truly an honor for me to stay with Porsche, whether on the track or off of it, and I look forward to applying my 26 years of motorsport experience to this team. »
Some drivers he has been alongside during his long career, like Carlos Sainz Jr and Felipe Massa, have already celebrated the career of “Aussie Grit” on social media:
“Top driver, top guy, a great example for all of the young drivers like me. Definitely someone I look up to! All the best @AussieGrit” — Carlos Sainz (@carlosainz) October 13, 2016
. @AussieGrit …Copy Cat 😹 ‼️ Mark, it was cool to share so many years, tracks, teams, battles and memories with you! #TopBloke #GreatRacer
— alex wurz (@alex_wurz) 13 octobre 2016
Greet career @AussieGrit enjoy your new less speedy life
— Johnny herbert (@johnnyherbertf1) 13 octobre 2016
Great bloke, great driver. Around the outside of Alonso at Eau Rouge etched in my mind. Fireproof slippers at the ready, catch you soon 🏁👍 https://t.co/BqGwfefxcQ
— Martin Brundle (@MBrundleF1) 13 octobre 2016
