Mark Webber ended his Formula 1 career with a bang, securing a podium finish and taking second place in his final grand prix, behind team-mate Sebastian Vettel at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
It was a memorable end to Webber’s Formula One career, where he has so often finished second to his four-time world champion team-mate. Vettel secured his ninth straight race win, breaking his previous record of eight last week.
The second place lifted Webber to finish the season with 199 points, finishing third in the driver’s championship, overtaking Lewis Hamilton by 10 points after the British driver suffered a puncture, leaving him to finish in ninth.
Despite the drizzle intensifying slightly over the last few laps, the top three remained as they were to the end of the race, with Vettel first, 10 seconds ahead of Webber who finished eight seconds ahead of Alonso.
As Webber crossed the finish line, his pit board read, ‘Awesome, thank you Mark’. It was a message repeated over team radio by Red Bull’s principal Christian Horner, who described the Australian as tough, determined, brave and a gentleman racer from the old school of racers.
Fox Sports reporter Mark Hughes described Webber as a driver that managed to use his car to the limit better than anybody else.
“The core skill of Webber, the thing he does arguably better than anyone else, is extract every ounce of potential from the car through fast, aerodynamically-loaded corners,” he wrote.
“Right to the end, as a 37-year-old about to retire, he still held a small edge over Vettel in any fast sections.”
Defying safety rules, Webber removed his helmet for his lap back to the pits, waving to the crowd at Sao Paulo’s Interlagos circuit, a track where he previously celebrated two grand prix victories.
Webber had the satisfaction of finishing his final grand prix with the quickest lap of the race with a 1:15.436, depriving his team-mate Vettel of the trifecta (pole, win and fastest lap).
Fellow Australian Daniel Ricciardo, who will take over Webber’s seat at Red Bull next year, rounded out the points in Brazil, finishing in 10th position. He finished the year on a total of 20 points.
After 215 races, Webber departed with nine wins and a host of memories, but without the world title he may have possibly won had it not been for the exceptional and freakish four-time consecutive world champion Sebastian Vettel.
From next year, he will drive for Porsche, taking on the Le Mans 24-hour race and the world endurance championship sportscar team next year.
Webber F1 career notes
Formula One debut: Australian Grand Prix, Albert Park, 2002 (finished fifth)
First win: German Grand Prix, Nurburgring, 2009
Total wins: Nine
Last win: British Grand Prix, Silverstone, 2012
Podium finishes: 42
Best championship finish: Third (2010, 2011, 2013)
Formula One teams: Minardi (2002), Jaguar (2003-2004), Williams (2005-2006), Red Bull (2007-2013).