[Closed] Webber announces F1 retirement (at end of season)

Saw that - I can understand his reasons. Wonder what would've happened if he'd had the same level of support in his career that Lewis/Seb/Shumi have enjoyed. He's always been a straight talker who cut through a lot of the other BS that goes on in the sport. Of course it means that the driver market silly season will kick off early. Already seen half a dozen theories about how it'll play out.

Just hope he keeps the cars the right side up during the next stage of his career!

Was kind of expecting this after what went on at Malaysia. Will be sad to see him go as the paddock will lose one of it's great characters.

As for who to replace him, got to be Raikkonen. He's quick, fits the Red Bull image and is capable of really putting it to Vettel. Should be fun!!

If Raikkonen does go to RB I can see it ruffling Seb's feathers a bit.

Great shame. For all the conspiracies and politics I think it is pretty clear that he wasn't quite in the top top class, but easily my favourite driver anyway. On the right day really brilliant, and on any day straight talking and likeable.

Great news for MW IMO. I think he's a great driver - not quite one of the best but definitely comes across as one of the nicer/well balanced people in the sport and his straight talking is fantastic in a world of super-happy PR-speak.

I think he'll love racing outside of F1. It seems that he's reconciled himself with the fact that he'll never be F1 World Champion and that'll no doubt take some weight off his shoulders.

You don't win Monaco twice without being one of the best!!

It's just consistency he lacked over a season. That could easily be down to factors controlled by the team eg the front wing at Silverstone.

Di Resta for RB maybe?

The only chance that Di Resta ha has of getting his hands on a Red Bull will be in the Petrol Station fridge....

I hope Kimi goes, but fear they may play it safe with a Torro Rosso also-ran.

Wonder what would've happened if he'd had the same level of support in his career that Lewis/Seb/Shumi have enjoyed.

He chose Williams over Renault the season before Renault success and Williams decline that has been going on since. Sometimes it's the luck of your choices rather than outright support…

swavis - Member

Di Resta for RB maybe?

or Jean-Eric Vergne perhaps. I'd like it to be Ricciardo as he seems to be a bit of a character, but his results have been poor this season.

but definitely one of the best drivers of the past decade...

Just a pity he's one of the worst at getting off the line...

and @OP: I wondered where you'd gone, what with the ashes being nearly upon us 😆

If someone outside of the Toro Rosso team is picked as the next Red Bull driver does it not make it a little tricky to justify having the Toro Rosso team as well as the Red Bull driver development program the first place?

I don't think Red Bull care too make about justifying all the stuff they do TBH.

I think he'll love racing outside of F1

He was flying high the last time he went to Le Mans

maybe he'll have more time for mountain biking now...

Porsche resurgence in the LMP1 category, I think a trip to Le Mans might be on the cards next year! Audi have had it too easy since Peugeot dropped out.

Kobayashi for Red Bull!

Come on Horner - you know it makes sense!

DM52 +1 to that.

It would be great to see Kimi in the RB but I can't see Seb wanting him as his team mate. Good advertising potential for Vodka Red Bull tho...

Vettel will go to Ferrari at some pont in his career.

Vettel will go to Ferrari at some pont in his career.

...and Hamilton will be blocked again!

Surprised he had fewer wins (9) than Coulthard (13 IIRC - also two in Monaco).

Also how many times has he left the ground? Two flips at Le Mans, one at European Grand Prix, and at least once he where he managed to land his Red Bull after it had been nose up at 45 degrees.

Surprised he had fewer wins (9) than Coulthard (13 IIRC - also two in Monaco)

I think because Red Bull have been so dominant, people expect his record to be better than it is...especially with him being so close to the championship a few years ago.

Will Webber continue with team orders and remain very professional, or when the opportunity presents itself, "take that Seb"?

Will Webber continue with team orders and remain very professional, or when the opportunity presents itself, "take that Seb"?

I'd expect option B given that he took option B at Brazil last year when he still had this season with the team to go...

And to back that up...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/23073995

"Britney's in the wall"
Mark Webber's Williams years provided a favourite anecdote about him, which says a lot about his determination, sense of justice and humour.

Like all top Aussie sportsmen, Webber is not immune to a few psychological games to boost his chances. And it was he who invented the nickname "Britney" - as in popstar Spears - for his young, blond and good-looking 2006 Williams team-mate Nico Rosberg, then in his first season.

Their final race together was in Brazil, where Rosberg rammed into the back of his team-mate's car on the opening lap, breaking the front nose of the German's car and Webber's rear wing.

Because it's relatively quick to replace a front wing replacement but a damaged rear means a likely retirement, the two were given a "priority Rosberg" message over the radio as they headed back to the pits.

Webber, cross at his team-mate's mistake, was determined to get back first and they began to race - really race - despite Rosberg suffering from lack of front grip and Webber struggling with the rear.

As they came on to the pit straight, Rosberg was just ahead, only to lose control through the flat-out kink before the pits and crash heavily into a concrete barrier.

Webber was right behind him and, as he passed the incident, the team came back on the radio with another "priority Rosberg" message. Webber paused for effect before replying in a languid Aussie drawl: "Britney's in the wall."

🙂

IMHO, a mediocre driver in a better car he deserved with flashes of brilliant drives, but mostly mid field battles and hasty badly timed overtakes that usually involve front nose wipeout.

he'll probably get a job at the bbc or sky.

Webber had terrible luck with his cars from 05/6/ till now, many DNF and he is a genuinely competitive guy ,but also a nice guy - shame he is going but he has had a hell of a run .

Sad to see him go but the right choice I think.
there have been a few guys to win that many races and no championship, Coulthard, Barrachello, Berger, Pattrese, Moss of course. He's in good company there.
what chance Rosberg to RB? When's his contract up? He's the most suitable of the top guys. Would love to see it go to Kobiashi but sadly I don't think that's likely. Should be some good competition down at STR now there is a prize up for grabs.

Never saw MW as top tier. He had a bloody good car three seasons and only 9 wins. A better driver would double that in such a car....a great driver even more.

Ricardo probably will end up at RB?

assuming that they have another good car, hopefully it'll be Raikkonen at RB next year so we can finally settle the question of just how good Vettel actually is

Kubica for Red Bull!!! 🙂

I like this Mark Webber story:

The Red Bull press officers suspected what might be coming, and had said to him beforehand that he should stick to the party line and not talk in depth about Bahrain.
Webber walked in, looked at the assembled throng, and said: "So. Bahrain?"
Over the next 15 minutes, he talked about nothing else. Judging the situation perfectly, he picked his words with care, making it clear he was uncomfortable about the position the sport and himself were in and why, but not saying a single thing that could be construed as offensive or overtly critical.
It was a profoundly impressive moment - and he went on to produce one of his best races, out-qualifying Vettel on a tough weekend for the team and passing him for fourth place between the penultimate and final corners of the last lap.

From [url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/23073995 ]here[/url]

do I remember it incorrectly, but didn't Webber sell shares in himself in his early days in the UK to raise capital for investing in setting up a drive for him?

Raikkonen- You know before he retired I thought he was 'ok'/a very good driver. No fan-fare, just gets on with it.

In the Lotus - tbh its not a bloody great car, hes showing just what a bloody capable driver he is. For me, hes one of the greats now- he may never win seven titles (or even three) but his talent puts him on par with Schummacher and definitely alongside Mika.

Thoughts?

I like his no bs approach. Definitely a fan!

hora - Member

Raikkonen- You know before he retired I thought he was 'ok'/a very good driver. No fan-fare, just gets on with it.

In the Lotus - tbh its not a bloody great car, hes showing just what a bloody capable driver he is. For me, hes one of the greats now- he may never win seven titles (or even three) but his talent puts him on par with Schummacher and definitely alongside Mika.

Thoughts?

I think he's up there with Hamilton and Alonso and maybe Kubica for being able to wring that extra little bit out of the car. Even compared to Vettel, I think those drivers have a very slight edge in terms of sheer pace.

Take a look at Hamilton's laps on Top Gear. The way he gets the car turned in with a really delicate touch of oversteer is sublime. Compare to Vettel who although does a mighty lap, seems to be slightly working against the car.

Where Vettel shines though is consistency and focus over the race distance. He gets the fastest lap quite often, so clearly very fast with a light car, but it's hard to tell quite how much of that is down to the car being excellent (and designed around him?).

You know they nicknamed Vettel baby Schummy [b]before[/b] he started winning right? 😉

Saying this- I'd love to see Vettel in a new team, in a crap car to see how he develops it/performs in it..

Raikkonen was very lucky to win the championship he did. He's definitely not on a par with Schumacher (whatever you think of him).

He does seem to have matured well though and is doing a mighty fine job at the moment.

I'm not sure who they should take - Kimi is the best there is available. But of the young drivers, since Hamilton came into F1, there has been no-one who has stood out.

All are good enough for F1 but I've not seen anyone who has 'great' stamped on their forehead!

do I remember it incorrectly, but didn't Webber sell shares in himself in his early days in the UK to raise capital for investing in setting up a drive for him?

No that was [url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Wilson_%28racing_driver%29 ]Justin Wilson[/url] - never made it in F1 but has carved out a career in the US.

Aha, thanks thepurist

Muffin man - didn't Vettel arrive after Hamilton. I know Vettel comes across as older and wiser than Hamilton's grumpy school boy routine, but I think he's younger.

Hora - would Torro Rosa count as a poor team? Vettel did OK there.

I suspect the Newey-Vettel relationship is more symbiotic than it appears. Vettel can express to Newey the kind of drive he wants, Newey can build it, and then the two of them can work out how to adapt both the car and the driving style to make it go fast. Drivers need cars, designers need feedback, and not just from telemetry.

If it was just the car, then every Vettel win would have a Webber podium. There's been a bit of that but not that much.

The Toro Rosso Vettel drove was essentially a Red Bull being run by a different team, so not really a bad car. He'd have to do the same as Schumi (move from Benetton to Ferrari) and rebuild a poor team to shake the reputation for only winning in an Newey car TBH.

That Toro Rosso (I will spell it right sometime) was closely related to the Red Bull (i think it may not have been an entirely current chassis) modified to accept a different engine, but it had nothing to do with Newey as I recall.

Hmmm it was scatter-gun and at newbie-level drivers always give it their all. Hamo was the same but sensational to watch in his first seasons.

I do remember his break/post-race interview after standing in for Kubica. Vettel was soooo thankful for the opportunity, thanking everyone. Made me like the guy. He has a quiet thoughtful charm? Endearing. No?

Shame the only F1 driver to have taken part in a race against me.... Well ok Mountain Mayhem not too many years back.

..maybe now he will do it again?

Dooosuk disagree. He did what he does best. Gets on with it. He crept up on alonso/hamo. Then mugged them.

I predicted he would when everyone reckoned hamo/alonso would both walk it. Never really rated kimi. He took sooooooooooo long getting there 😆

Raikkonen was very lucky to win the championship he did. He's definitely not on a par with Schumacher (whatever you think of him).

He does seem to have matured well though and is doing a mighty fine job at the moment.

But McLaren did lose him a couple of championships with reliability issues when he drove for them
Kind of fitting that they threw away FA / LH championship for kimi to take it back. These things have a way of working out in the end 🙂
Kimi is blindingly fast, the comparisons with hakkinen are entirely valid IMO, and nothing to do with shared nationality

Horner is such a gimp, just heard him on the radio saying that Webbers timing was not great, what goes around comes around. If they had treated Webber a bit better then maybe he would of done things differently.

Aha, thanks thepurist

He did actually make it to formula one, but made little progress with Minardi, which was fairly predictable. In some respects Wilson was a British Mark Webber, their early careers and results were very similar. I knew a guy who purchased £500 worth of shares, an investment akin to Ed Milliband buying furniture for No. 10.