Goodbye and thank you Mark Webber

After 12 years in F1 Mark is retiring from the F1 grid after this weekends Brazilian GP.

From his on-track pass on Fernando going into Eau Rouge at the 2012 Belgian GP, to his infamous pit-radio at Monaco telling the team that "sorry Mate, Britney's in the wall"......................., a pleasure, THANK YOU & GOOD LUCK racing in 2014   

After 12 years in F1 Mark is retiring from the F1 grid after this weekends Brazilian GP.

From his on-track pass on Fernando going into Eau Rouge at the 2012 Belgian GP, to his infamous pit-radio at Monaco telling the team that "sorry Mate, Britney's in the wall"......................., a pleasure, THANK YOU & GOOD LUCK racing in 2014   

the Britney radio call was actually in Brazil not Monaco. Rosberg hit the back of Webber's car breaking his front wing and Webber's rear wing. Since both needed to pit Williams told them Rosberg had pit priority since he could probably just replace his broken nose and go on racing. On the way to the pits Rosberg and Webber continued racing each other, final corner Rosberg understeers to the wall, team repeats the radio call giving Rosberg priority, Webber comes back with sorry mate britney's in the wall

Can't wait to see him in that Porsche at Silverstone next year, because all of the bullshit he's had to put up with from Horner and co will have gone and he can get back to doing what he does best: driving fast.

OOpps, my bad, thanks for the correction, too much Southern Comfort 

Still, not bad for a number 2 poster 

Edited by weareracing, 21 November 2013 - 00:09.

Very excited to see him in Porsche next year, I will be cheering for him that's for sure.

Sad to see one of the established guys go. It would be great if he's successful at Porsche. I know I will be following how he does even though I am not a huge fan of the sport. 

Where has the time gone?

Thanks for the memories Mark! Looking very much forward to following you to WEC next year to make some more.           

Edited by LoudHoward, 21 November 2013 - 00:35.

Always had a soft spot for Mark, I hope he excels in sportscars with Porsche.

Loved his honesty and pure speed, when he was on it, he was really on it!

Thanks mate!

Thanks for the memories, mate. If I could meet the dude, the next bottle of gin would be on me.

I loved the ups, hated the downs, but hell, what a career. No true champ but a people's champ nonetheless.

Here's to the main bloke *cling* and hopefully a 10th win.

Can't wait for the next chapter and I'll be there at Le Mans in 2015 cheering the bloke on. Roll on, awesomeness.

Not his biggest fan but never had a problem with him. Look at his F1 career and there's nothing you could laugh at, and that's all we can really hope for in the end.

Probably the best of the nearly men.

He will be remembered when people look back on F1 history in decades time, no doubt about that.

So long mark, one of the true stars of the sport, now please go out with a bang, and win this GP, going out as a 3x Brazilian GP winner would be quite fitting imo 

Edited by lbennie, 21 November 2013 - 00:57.

Here's my first memory of Mark, made quite an impression-

I'm excited to see him back in sports cars, can't wait to see him wheel to wheel with Mcnish. He could have another 10-15 years of competitive racing in him, just look at someone like Andy Wallace or Jan Lammers. 

I have to say, my best memories of him were his occasionally brilliant qualifying sessions in the awful Jaguars. Always had my fingers crossed for that first win, and the 'ring in '09 was very sweet. 

Edited by Dan333SP, 21 November 2013 - 00:58.

He's been given an early exit from the contract and starts with Porsche on this Monday after the Brazilian GP:

http://www.carsguide...rom_f1_20131120

"We are very lucky that Mark will join us one day after the Formula One race in Sao Paulo," the CEO of Porsche, Matthias Muller, reveals exclusively to Carsguide. "I met him last week when he had the seat fitting. We are very happy to have him."

He's been given an early exit from the contract and starts with Porsche on this Monday after the Brazilian GP:

http://www.carsguide...rom_f1_20131120

Sanity prevails, everyone wins in this regard, especially as RB are still going to have a relationship with Mark, there's no reason for RBR to not let him go early.

Writers obsessions with "top-secret" seat fittings and the like, I'd wager it was nothing of the sort, especially as people are talking about it...

Edited by LoudHoward, 21 November 2013 - 01:32.

Oh well, have a good one.

He will be remembered when people look back on F1 history in decades time, no doubt about that.

I always felt he was kind of like Gerhard Berger in that regard. Never quite shone like the superstar, but looking back, god damn talented.

I dont feel particularly sad for him leaving, becuase it looks like he needs to do it for his own sanity.

A couple of poles and podiums in his last handfull of races should be enough to leave on a high note i reckon, although of course the win is the fairytale.

I dont even want to say it out loud in case I jinx it, but I just hope he doesnt have a dnf

time surely flies..i remember his debut...first time i am seeing a established driver whose debut race i watched,retiring(not counting Montoya,his was premature)...feeling sad..

I'll miss him because I find him a very easy bloke to like, my only real complaint as a person is that he defended a bit too hard when desperate (around 05/06). Had a better career than I expected but will go down as something of an enigma and one of the oddest drivers I have seen. I maintain that his pace is  better than it seems, even now Seb may be 16-2 in qualifying but he's right there, almost all the time. His actual speed has never been a problem but a) he's the worst starter of all time and b) he has ALWAYS absolutely chewed tyres.

He lacks that last 5% some drivers have, you see the top three have a sixth sense of where their car is and where other cars are and he lacks that at times. In his defense he has never ever had a fast car in a straight line so has had to improvise his passing moves. 

Most controversially I say his best years were 05/06, particularly 05. He absolutely wrang that cars neck and just nothing seemed to work for him when it mattered with Fisi running him off track at one race and a balls up at monaco the next. just a horrible year where to me he was putting the car in place sit did not belong. 

Anyways, let's hope he does well at Porsche and continues the rather straight up attitude he has displayed in F1. He appears right now now to be a man among boys and not just because he is bigger and older than most of them. 

Thanks for the memories. 

Edited by Alfisti, 21 November 2013 - 03:55.

Good riddance!

Most controversially I say his best years were 05/06, particularly 05.

Really? For me, the first half of 2005 was the most awkward to watch, while the one lap pace was there he was generally clumsy and error prone. Bahrain, Imola, Spain, Nurburgring, Canada, they were all pretty poor weekends, even Australia just because he drove like a granny into T1. He was quick but couldn't put together a weekend yet. I thought it took really until Heidfeld left for him to settle down a bit, and I think from then on through '06, and '07 he generally continued to improve to his '08-'10 form.

2010 has to be his best form. A little bit luck, when he ever had luck, he could have been the world champion....  All he had to do was finish ahead of Fernando and Seb at Dubai, he would have been the champion. He had a bad weekend at a bad time there.

Edited by George Costanza, 21 November 2013 - 04:25.

I've been a huge Webber fan ever since that first race in Melbourne all the way back in 2002.  It's been amazing to have an Australian to cheer for over those last 12 years & he's definitely done himself & his country proud.  It's going to be weird seeing him missing from the grid next year but all good things must come to the end.  Here's hoping he finishes his final race atleast on the podium

2010 has to be his best form. A little bit luck, when he ever had luck, he could have been the world champion....  All he had to do was finish ahead of Fernando and Seb at Dubai, he would have been the champion. He had a bad weekend at a bad time there.

Not crashing in Korea would have helped even more. It was after that race that Alan Jones said, that Mark threw away his best chance at winning a championship.

Never mind that he was after that race still 14 points ahead of Vettel, and at the end of the season (2 races later) 14 points behind Vettel. So don't cry river.

Webber has been the definition of an almost man in F1 for me.

Wish him well, but I think we'll see the same, form up, down behind the Porsche.

Edited by HP, 21 November 2013 - 04:44.

He had to outscore Fernando by 9 in Abu Dhabi, though missing the race in Dubai definitely hurt his chances! 

Edited by LoudHoward, 21 November 2013 - 04:45.

Awesome! I was there

thnx for the memories, Mark

I'll miss him, but wish him well and hope he has better luck driving Porkers.

I am still not sure where I rank him, not as good as Seb, but by how much and why?  In relation to the latter, we may get some insights if/when he publishes a memoir of his time in F1.  Regardless he has had a very creditable F1 career, demonstrated that he is a fighter, and been a genuine character in a sport(?) that is not over-supplied with characters.  Bon voyage Mark!

Wow, had almost forgotten about that.

What a ridiculous lap that was in the Jag.

He was a monster on the Michelins.

I still remember a picture of his which he took with Schumacher... Schumacher trying to remain at ease while he got all pally Then there were things that he did in a Minardi and Jaguar... Fond memories!

Adieu!

note: if someone knows the picture i'm speaking of, please do post it... it has been a while since i saw it, and i would like to see it once more please.

edit: while i was trying to find the pic for myself, i found this one from 2011 at redbull.com

Edited by garagetinkerer, 21 November 2013 - 05:58.

A king without a crown.

The last manly man in F1.

The last manly man in F1.

What about Jenson? He seems the same kind of decent bloke... you're right though these kind of drivers are a dying breed in F1, where it's all preened and proper kids now. No-one can match Mark's honesty and wit without it sounding really forced... I'm looking at you Sebastian!

Have always liked him, and rooted for him, and I will miss him a lot! (But I'm going to pay attention to Porsche next year.) He's a great, great, stand up guy. I look up to him.

I too think he's quicker than many thinks after especially this year. I think his speed is absolutely up there with the best, but gizmos and car-trickery isn't his area, so he hasn't been at one with all cars. 

But about this year; he's said it himself, it's sometimes been difficult to find the motivation, and that has been visible on the stopwatch. Luckily he has shown us this year too, that he can still put in those great one-lap attacks, and have some ballsy races.

My first memory is of course that fifth at Melbourne on his debut in '02, but after that it's probably qualifying in Suzuka in the wet the year after, that was an amazing effort from him! Austria, the race-performance that year stands out as well. 

I don't agree saying his '05 and '06-seasons were probably his best, is controversial. I can agree, he was stunning in the Williams but lady luck usually had other ideas. Then it's more controversial I think, to say his '09-season was fantastic, 'cause I think he was that year, even if he lost some momentum after the summer break.

Webber in Monaco.... Joyous! Both times in the Williams, but man, 2010 - that's the most impressive Monaco drive I can remember having seen live on TV. How he pulled the gap after each SC-period and his pace in general, it was on another planet, and what a circuit to be the master of! Same again last year, he won but in less dominant fashion, and his Silverstone-win was also memorable. (I was there to see it  )

Should've had a couple of wins this year, but let's hope he can get one, but on merit. That's how he likes it.

Thanks for great memories, on- and off track!

Edited by race addicted, 21 November 2013 - 06:58.

Mark can leave F1 feeling very proud. Many go through the sport and never even reach the podium, he is a multiple race winner and had a stab at a championship. A fast talented racer who I think we'll miss. In a sport full of PR robots, Webber said things how they were and showed more of a human side than most. The grid will be poor without him next season IMO. Good luck mate, finally he'll be racing in a team that appreciate him and will give him the support he deserves!

I will miss the guy.

Though I feel that after 2010 he was not as good as he used to be. and in this year especially

But him leaving the sport. I'm really sad...

Edited by Shiroo, 21 November 2013 - 08:03.

His performance in recent years has not been up to par with the car, so I won't mind seeing him vacate his place at Red Bull. That said, he can probably be more satisfied than most with what he's accomplished in F1. That he has ended up with nine (or will it be ten?) wins seems fair enough - it's up there with Barrichello, Massa, Berger. Good drivers, but maybe not quite good enough to be among the sport's greats.

I suspect Webber will have a good time with Porsche next year. The series has no lack of talented drivers, but it's always good to have more of them on the grid.

Edited by Nonesuch, 21 November 2013 - 08:09.

Top bloke, F1 will be much worse off without people like Mark Webber.

True, he's not the quickest and never has been, but the sport will be truly sorer for his presence, not just as a racing driver but as someone who could tell it like it was.

I probably agree with that "Was Never top 5 in any year" except for 2010, he truly hit his best form that year, just a shame he blew it in Korea.

Also a mention to his coming up through the lower ranks olden day style, plus coming back from his 2008 accident which could have been career ending and robbed him of all his Red Bull success. It's easy to call him unlucky with his general shoddy luck in the first half of career and then having Vettel as a teammate, but in motorsports terms, winning 9 GPS and racing the last 5 years of your career in the best car on the grid and lasting 12 seasons in F1 shows that he was probably more fortunate than is generally shown.

Hoping he kicks arse next year and hoping Ricciardo keeps proudly and successfully carrying the Aussie torch in F1!

Good driver and from the outside he looks like an amazing person. I hope he has a great run at Le Mans.

I won't say it's been easy being a Webber fan, but there have been some sublime moments, especially in 2010. He will be missed. I will be following WEC more closely next year. 

i hope he becomes even more outspoken about his time in f1

good luck to him

I hope he has a good start, but on recent form...

Good bye Mark, it was really good to have you on the grid!

Good luck with the Porsche!

Where has the time gone?

Off topic, and sad to say: this car looks much better than any actual (and future) ones.

I will miss him  Good luck Mark ...

Fans of Mark may enjoy this interview he gave in reflective mood to the always excellent Tom Cary of The Telegraph:
 

"You think back to the start and you are on that rat wheel and you are working your nuts off. You can’t ever forget that. Driving in your 1.1-litre B-reg Fiesta from Norfolk to Brands Hatch to work for £43 a day. If you were lucky you might get to stay at Anne’s mum’s house and that would save you petrol. I have been very lucky. OK, I’ve had a bit of a rough time of late but overall I was dealt a good hand.”

 
Also, not funny, but still:
 

Outside it is a cold and wet November day but inside the restored home a log fire is burning. There is no sign of Webber’s two dogs, Simba and Shadow (“stood down from interviews since they bit Eddie Jordan’s hand”, [Ann] Neal remarks)