Mark Alan Webber, born on August 27, 1976, is a retired Australian racing driver popularly known for his stint in Formula 1 from 2002 to 2013 and the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) from 2014 to 2016, where he clinched the 2015 FIA WEC title for Porsche alongside Timo Bernhard and Brendon Hartley.
| Nationality | Australian |
|---|---|
| Born | Mark Alan Webber 27 August 1976 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia |
Webber’s journey in motorsport began at a young age when he ventured into karting, swiftly climbing the ladder by claiming regional championships. Transitioning to car racing, he made his mark in the Australian Formula Ford Championship and later in the British Formula 3 Championship. His driving caught the attention of F1 team principles as he contested the FIA GT Championship with the AMG Mercedes team, finishing as runner-up in the 1998 season with an impressive record of five wins in ten races. Further wins followed, including a second-place finish in the 2001 International Formula 3000 Championship with Super Nova Racing.
Stepping into Formula One, Webber made his debut with the Minardi team in 2002, finishing in a remarkable fifth place at his first race, the 2002 Australian Grand Prix, also his home race. His journey continued with stints at Jaguar before securing a move to Williams for the 2005 season, where he earned his maiden podium at the 2005 Monaco Grand Prix. The highlight of his F1 career was undoubtedly with Red Bull Racing, where he clinched nine Grand Prix wins, thirteen pole positions, and a third place in the World Drivers’ Championship in the 2010, 2011, and 2013 seasons.
After retiring from F1 in 2013, Webber competed in the World Endurance Championship, partnering with Bernhard and Hartley in the Porsche 919 Hybrid. Together, they dominated the field, securing eight victories in the final two seasons and ultimately claiming the 2015 World Endurance Drivers’ Championship.
After retiring from professional racing in 2016, Webber moved into a television pundit role for Britain’s Channel 4 and Australia’s Network 10 and ventured into driver management. His remarkable career in motorsport was duly recognised with the Australian Sports Medal in 2000, and his appointment as Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the 2017 Australia Day Honours. He also holds a place in both the Australian Motor Sport Hall of Fame and the FIA Hall of Fame.
Mark Webber Formula One World Championship career
| F1 Career | 2002–2013 |
|---|---|
| Teams | Minardi, Jaguar, Williams, Red Bull |
| Entries | 217 (215 starts) |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 9 |
| Podiums | 42 |
| Career points | 1,047.5 |
| Pole positions | 13 |
| Fastest laps | 19 |
| First entry | 2002 Australian Grand Prix |
| First win | 2009 German Grand Prix |
| Last win | 2012 British Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 2013 Brazilian Grand Prix |
Sources: Wikipedia.com
