Monday night’s Australian Story gave a magnificent insight into the world of Mark Webber – a man who defied the odds to reach the very pinnacle of the motor racing world, only to find himself carrying Sebastian Vettel’s bags.
The ABC’s half hour insight into amazing Australians and their stories is typically compelling and at the very least highly watchable. Monday night it was both, as Caroline Jones did a marvellous feature on our Formula One nearlyman.
Tracking his career from suburban Queenbeyan to the podium of Monte Carlo, we learnt a great deal about what drove Webber and what was really going on in the background.
Most fascinating was finally getting to know his partner, Ann Neal. For many F1 fans she has been an enigmatic figure, a complete contrast to the trophy wives and girlfriends most other drivers seem to have. It was a relationship initially that few knew about, and up until now very few understood.
Last night Neal and Webber spoke at length about their partnership, forged when the then-32-year-old Neal agreed to manage the 19-year-old Webber and get him established in the cut-throat world of European motor racing. Over time it blossomed into a personal relationship and – a few hiccups aside – they both seem enormously content at finding their soul mate.
It is easier to understand Mark’s grit when you imagine the soothing effect Neal’s presence would have had in the garage. Rather than “yes Mark, you bet Mark, whatever you think Mark”, hers was the calming voice of reason that had settled any nerves and gave wise counsel.
Both of them were focused on one thing, reaching the pinnacle of Formula One and becoming the World Champion. Which didn’t happen.
The second feature of the show was an insight into the partnership of Webber and Vettel, which delivered so much success and ended so bitterly.
Throughout his career Mark methodically beat each teammate he had, from the outclassed Alex Yoong to the very highly rated Antonio Pizzonia, Christian Klein and Nico Rosberg. When he finally found himself in a fast car, he suffered the misfortune of having a teammate who was not just incredibly fast but also ruthless.
Vettel had grown up in a bubble of ‘Yeah Sebastian!’ and it allowed him to make decisions at the track a weaker soul would shy from. Ignoring team orders, punting his teammate off the track, and generally putting himself not just first, but second, third and fourth as well.
All of this would be unremarkable if Vettel was not quick, and he is certainly that and then some.
Sadly for Webber, it was clear that as former boss Paul Stoddart identified, Vettel got the wood over him in 2010 and never let it go, with the last three seasons a cakewalk.
Mark was kept in the star Red Bull team for the same reason McLaren kept David Coulthard to partner Mika Hakkinnen, and Ferrari kept signing Rubens Barrichello to partner Michael Schumacher. They were fast enough to be right behind the star, and too stubborn to admit they were number two drivers. Contrast Webber wringing the guts out of his Red Bull race in, race out, to the insouciant way Kimi Raikkonnen sulks about any less-than-perfect scenario.
Webber was the perfect number two driver, right up until the fallout from Multi 21 left the fragile partnership in tatters. Looking back, he spoke openly of his fury with Vettel over some of Sebastian’s actions, but remarkably commented that he expects the grudges will pass with time and a few glasses of wine.
(Having written that, the postscript to the show indicated that Mark’s autobiography is coming out soon and he has given his formerteammate a heads up that “there may be some carnage”.)
We were left with an incredible picture of what it’s like to get to the very top, only to be shaded by another with talents that just surpass your own. There was little bitterness or regret, rather pride in what he achieved. Ann Neal closed by commenting that he could walk away from the sport with his code of ethics and sportsmanship intact.
In a different era, or a different team, or with a different teammate, Mark Webber could have been World Champion. But it wasn’t to be. Australian Story left you with the impression that he and Ann are done with Formula One and looking forward to the next challenges in life.
Well done ABC!
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