Mark Webber | Profile of Australian Formula 1 driver, Mark Webber

Mark Webber

Team: Red Bull Racing
F1 Debut: 2002 - Australian Grand Prix

Mark Webber forged his initial reputation competing for the famous Mercedes Sportscar team in the late nineties. He made even more of a name for himself when his CLK-LM car flipped in two separate incidents at the Le Mans 24 Hours (both in practice sessions before the event). Mercedes unfairly blamed Mark for both accidents and he fell out with team management as a result. Mark vowed never to compete at Le Mans again, and when another Mercedes flipped during the actual race his decision was somewhat vindicated.

The Australian moved into Formula 3000 after his sportscar efforts and won a few races before his F1 debut with Minardi in 2002. He incredibly scored points in his very first race on home soil and instantly caught the attention of the sport's larger teams.

Webber seems to be a very solid driver with enormous talent, but lacks the last little bit of killer instinct - the undefinable X factor - that it takes to become World Champion. In 2009 he was just as quick as teammate Sebastian Vettel in many of the races, but Sebastian took more victories and scored more points over the whole year.

Mark Webber moved to Jaguar after his spell at Minardi and would have amassed a collection of podiums if not for mechanical dramas. He stayed with the leaping cat for two years before moving to Williams, a decision he later regretted. Mark could have gone to either Renault or Toyota in 2005, but he ignored his manager's advice and declined the offers from both teams. It was a bad move. Renault had the fastest car in 2005 and the Toyota was very competitive, leaving Webber to ponder his time in the unreliable Williams.

Webber left the Williams team bitterly disappointed at the end of 2006 and moved to Red Bull where he has been ever since. He thrashed David Courtyard for two years but has since had a much tougher assignment against Vettel. Mark is a great driver who has now won two races for Red Bull, but he is unlikely to become World Champion. He will find the task of winning the title especially difficult in the same team as Sebastian.

Webber will start running his own GP3 outfit in 2010 so will have an involvement in motorsport when his time behind the wheel is over.

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