Australian Formula One driver Mark Webber of Red Bull Racing sits in his car as he prepares to practice for the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park in Melbourne, Friday March 27, 2009. The Australian Grand Prix will take place on March 29. (AAP Image/Martin Philbey
At long last! Mark Webber is a Grand Prix race winner. It is richly deserved for a driver who has had to battle so hard to reach F1, let alone stay there.
For all the bad luck and the doubters, Webber has proven his capability by joining such an exclusive club. It’s also given a sport gripped by political infighting a feel good story it so desperately needed.
Given Webber’s rocky road in F1, his first Grand Prix win was never going to be conventional.
Despite having the fastest car and in pole position, a misjudged move off the line, slamming into the side of Rubens Barrichello, sent him to the pits for a drive through penalty and could potentially have cost him his greatest chance of a race win.
Had the Webber curse struck again?
Remember the Le Mans disaster with Mercedes in 1999, the ill-fated decision to move to Williams instead of going to what would be the championship winning Renault team, the broken leg in a bicycle crash in his own charity event, etc etc?
But no one would deny Webber this time and a faultless performance and stunning pace, assisted partly by circumstance, gave Webber what he has craved for so long.
Karma owed him big time and it paid some back at the Nurburgring.
The emotion and excitement of his post race radio communication with the team said it all.
Webber may not be the most naturally gifted driver within the current crop, but this makes his achievements even more impressive.
His work ethic and commitment is second to none and this has, sadly, gone largely unnoticed in his homeland.
It was fitting he mentioned the doubters in the post race press conference.
Unaware of the peculiarities of Formula 1, many have derided him for his lack of success.
They should be eating their words right now.
In Webber we have an affable, gracious sporting star unaffected by the ego driven world of Formula 1.
The fact he was able to make it into Formula 1, following years of struggle, climbing the perilous motorsport ladder, highlights his determination and drive.
Put simply, for the generation that grew up with the Australian Grand Prix, Webber has given us the first opportunity to hear the Australian national anthem played on a Grand Prix podium, the first victory for one of our countrymen.
He deserves much praise.
Webber’s win, and the manner in which it was achieved, also demonstrated that for all the political infighting and battle for power, Formula 1 Grand Prix racing remains a sport at its core.
Only this week the tensions between the warring factions, the FIA and FOTA, simmered yet again with the Australian Grand Prix Corporation even coming out and saying it isn’t interested in staging a race without the top F1 teams.
No one would be interested in such a race.
As the protracted battle between the FIA and FOTA continues unabated, the sport is being permanently damaged.
At least the 2009 German Grand Prix provided a distraction from all that bickering and reminded us why we still watch the sport, to see champions like Mark Webber entertain and inspire us.
Papa Romeo
Guest
Hey Mr Conkey. Try Canada '98 when Schuey got a drive though for bumping Frentzen off the track but went on to win. I doubt that's the only one. ONYA WEBBO!!!!
Adrian Musolino
Expert
Rob, Vettel is very special, an amazing talent who will be a world champion. Webber was always going to have his work cut out against him this year, made worse by the Aussies off-season leg break, but he has lifted his game and is closing the gap to Vettel. Whether Red Bull can snag the championships away from Brawn remains to be seen. It is delicately balanced and the pendulum will swing between the two dependent on how track conditions suit their respective cars. Also, with improving teams such as McLaren on the way up, there may be other cars in the battle for podiums and this could play a crucial part in how the championship plays out.
Robert B
Guest
I'm not a big F1 fan but I do find myself amongst friends whilst watching it and they are also keen to answer my naive questions. Anyways I was glad that Webber finally won a race, good on him. Adrian do Red Bull have what is takes and what is your opinion of Vettel?
Derryn
Guest
Thanks for your responses. Some good points there. Conks the two red bulls still finished one and two which is a fair indication that the machinery very much has a lot to do with it. I doubt if it was a test of pure talent. i.e if all drivers had exactly the same car that those two drivers would finish 1 & 2. Is engineering considered sport?
Adrian Musolino
Expert
Derryn, you are right to a certain extent. Success in F1 is largely dependent on having the right package - quick car, good team back at the factory etc, but a driver is a key ingredient in that mix. Drivers aren't the biggest determining factor, see how the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso et al are struggling with slow cars this year, but their ability has helped lift their teams up the grid. A driver still has to maximise the opportunity presented to him and for that he needs skill, talent, fitness etc, all things key to any athletes performance no matter the sport. Is it a sport? It is still a contest fought between drivers, although some are handicapped by equipment, and teams. It also still takes immense effort, skill and fitness to drive those cars at such a level. I too get very frustrated by the over reliance on technology and importance it plays in F1. This has gotten worse in the modern era of the sport with the manufacturers investing so much into technology. This makes minor things like tyre pressures etc crucial and such determining factors, things that many casual fans don't understand or care about so I understand your position.
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
Derryn, you're entitled to your opinion..but Formula One is very much a sport. The drivers lose upwards of 5kg per race. If any of us were in a one of two seat formula one cars without training, we'd probably snap our necks..such is the G-Force generated. It takes so much physical training to drive an F1 car. As for the machinery debate..that's what separates F1 from other motorsport. That's why there is such uproar about budget cuts..because F1 has always been about developing almost everything from scratch. It wasn't that long ago that Red Bull was struggling, and now they have a decent car. That doesn't just magically happen..it's the engineers working over-time to fine tune every aspect. If it's all about the car, rather than the driver..why did Mark Webber demolish his team mate Vettel last night?
Derryn
Guest
Who said they did? All I said was that it is MORE about the machinery then the driver. I would suggest a lot more about the machinery then the ability of the driver.
megatron
Guest
The cars don't drive themselves
Derryn
Guest
Good effort by Webber to break his duck but can F1 really be considered a sport? It's more about the machinery then the driver.
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
Thanks for that Adrian. It's going straight to my favourites. Here was the one I was talking about in 2007, which includes his rather brief interview with Louise Goodman... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiJYXj6AXkM
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
Ahh indeed Sammy C. He went off too in the interview with Louise Goodman...a few swear words from memory..about the only time Webber has ever lost in temper in the media.
Adrian Musolino
Expert
Here is the aforementioned Webber radio celebration - uncensored - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuMtQU1Cg4E
Sammy C
Guest
They weren't actually team mates back in Fuji Benjamin. Vettel was driving for Toro Roso at the time. DC was Webbers teammate! He would have won that race too if Vettel hadn't of smacked him up the rear under safety car.
megatron
Guest
Amazing win! Richly deserved.
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
Hey Adrian, you beat me to it. I wrote a similar article, soon after watching his victory. But you have summed it up nicely. The stat I want to know is...how many drivers have won a Grand Prix after receiving a penalty? Surely, not many. It was a great drive. Martin Brundle gave me a scare when he said "Why's Webber slowing down?" "Does he have a problem?'...But of course he had a 22 second lead by that stage. I'm sure he was glad Vettel was miles behind him..after what happened in 2007..when his team mate took him out at the Japanese Grand Prix with victory in sight.
Sammy C
Guest
I got teary when he I heard the voice comms after the race. I've been following Mark since his GP2 days - and this is so satisfying as a supporter after all the struggles through his F1 career, I cant begin imagine how he is feeling. Longest last 20 laps of a GP I've ever watched. Well done Webbs!
Chris Beck
Guest
I was happy to see this result especially after the drive-through penalty was imposed. I've said for a couple of years now that I'd like Webber to have in a TV role when he retires from driving. He seems to be everything you'd want - bright, reserved, articulate, not arrogant, etc and it's nice to see a guy like this finally have a breakthrough.
Brett McKay
Guest
spot on Adrian, it was a great drive from Webber, and his reaction as he crossed the line was fantastic. And was it just me, or was a certain adjective used as a prefix to "beauty" not picked up in all the emotion (and possibly the accent) and went to air?? Wonder now if Webber might follow Jenson Button's course, where after breaking a long drought for a win, he followed up with several more in rapid time?
tifosi
Guest
well done to mark, 8 years on and he gets his first win and he totally earned it !!