Magic Memories!
MARK’S FINAL BRITISH GRAND PRIX COMPLETES AN IMPRESSIVE TALLY OF TWO WINS, TWO SECONDS AND A THIRD PLACE IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS
This year’s British Grand Prix will always be memorable for Mark, following his retirement announcement on Thursday, but it almost became unforgettable on Sunday afternoon. He came to within 0.7s of winning the race, despite dropping to 15th place on the opening lap.
“I don’t know what happened at the start,” said Mark. “We’ve been really good away from the line in the last few races, but when the lights went out I went backwards today. I haven’t got a clue why that happened and the situation was made worse by contact with [Romain] Grosjean at the first corner, which damaged the front wing and dropped me way down the order.”
A mix of good strategy from the team and a brilliantly tenacious drive from Mark saw him climb steadily up the order throughout the race. He was back into the top 10 by lap eight and he benefited from several Safety Car periods to be within striking distance of the lead with 10 laps to go.
“It was one of the best strategies we’ve done,” says Mark. “But there’s no doubt we were helped by the Safety Cars. I was praying for a Safety Car, but no-one wants them for the reasons that they were occurring. When you have tyre failures like that, you know you could be next and that you’re playing Russian Roulette. But I still made the best of the Safety Cars and when the race went green for the final time I was lying fifth and ready to challenge the cars in front.”
Mark quickly got ahead of Daniel Ricciardo, Adrian Sutil and Kimi Raikkonen and with five laps to go he was lying second and hunting down race leader Nico Rosberg. He set the fastest lap of the race on the final lap and crossed the line just 0.7s behind – to score his fifth consecutive podium finish at Silverstone.
“With 10 laps to go, when you can see the win in sight, you have mixed feelings about finishing 0.7s behind the race winner. But Nico also drove well; he deserved the win and Mercedes are clearing making progress. They’ve always had a quick car in qualifying and they now have good race pace too.
“But, overall, I’m still happy with my weekend. I was happy with my performance and you should never take finishing high up for granted. I enjoyed racing in front of the British fans – they’ve always given me a lot of support over the years and it’s always been a real highlight to race at Silverstone.”
Living in England, Mark will be able to get home early after the race and enjoy what was the hottest day of the year in England. “I’ll chill-out this evening,” says Mark, “and I might even enjoy a glass of red wine. I’ll have time to reflect on a good weekend.”
With the German Grand Prix taking place next weekend, Mark will have to turn his attention to the Nurburgring – scene of his first grand prix victory in 2009 – shortly.
“I’m very much looking forward to the next race,” says Mark. “I like the Nurburgring; it’s a very technical circuit, but one that’s satisfying to drive when you get it right. Mercedes are going to be strong there, but so should we. It should be another exciting weekend.”
// ends
38 Comments
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soraya
on July 1, 2013Well done!! from now win it all, sweet for you and us, your fans, and sawer for you known hoomsss. Fantastic today, take good care, and even when you live F1 we will be behind you
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AaX
on July 1, 2013As Good As A Win and Nevertheless It Was.
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Roberta
on July 1, 2013Well done Mark!!!! WOW, You’re the best!!!!! Great, great job 🙂
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Wendy
on July 1, 2013Congratulations on 2nd place Mark. What an amazing drive. I’m going to miss those amazing fight backs of yours. Hope all goes well in Germany.
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Jill and Brian
on July 1, 2013You showed true grit today Mark, really enjoyed the race – come home bright red but well worth it. Great to see how the British fans love you, our stand was electric when you carved through the field. Well done Mark.
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Jim barrel
on July 1, 2013Well done mark and best of luck for the future
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Robert Green
on July 1, 2013Hope you have a great time for the rest of the season and if possible I’ll be able to follow your new Racing career.
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Lara
on July 1, 2013Hi, Mark !
Incredible race in your performance, it is aerobatics !!! Formula 1 will lose a lot without you. It is a pity we will not be able to see you at the Russian Grand Prix in 2014. I was disappointed with this because I wanted so much to take your autograph … Good luck in Germany !
The best regards from Russia -
Jim
on July 1, 2013Fantastic Recovery Mark, this track has to be your best ever! Was really exciting to watch you hunt down Rosberg in the final stages of the race. Bring it home this year!
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wassa
on July 1, 2013Great stuff, perhaps you can blow seb out of the way in Germany, about time he had his share of mechanical problems. Great drive especially the last 6 laps, wow wish it was like that off the line.
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Susan
on July 1, 2013Congrats Mark great racing! Pity tyres played havoc with some drivers yet again. So close to winning but you drove very well. Cold here in Oz but warm in UK for a change. Looking forward to F1 Germany. Cheers:)
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Trevor Parrott
on July 1, 2013Good on you Mark the championship is still there to win and going out as the winner would be great . Would hope to see more of you in Australia next year catching up on your surfing regards Trevor
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mcgregor thom
on July 1, 2013…what a fantastic race Mark…you really showed your true sporting determination at Silverstone and we were all very much glued to our tv sets here downunder…it was a courageous 2nd place mate, well done!
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Mags Condon
on July 1, 2013Fantastic drive yet again. Sorry that we are losing such a great driver and sportsman, but delighted you are going out on a high. Hoping for one better next weekend.
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Ryan
on July 1, 2013That was an absolute nail biter and the best overtakes all year! On the outside in a high speed corner, cutting through the inside and ripping it hard through the apex to pull wide -and what INCREDIBLE PACE!! That was the best racing I’ve ever seen. Might have been 2nd place but I’d count it as a win. I do count that as a win.
p.s.
I think red bull have been sabotaging your starts. there is no way an experienced driver like you should ever have a start that bad and not know why. I’d check on that [Site Manager Edit] helmut marko. -
Leon Archer
on July 1, 2013Great driveMark,sorry you are retiring but its good you are still at the top of your sport
Regards Leon -
bruce
on July 1, 2013Poor start (again) but you made up for that during those last few laps. Those tyre problems and your dash at the end will make this a race to remember.
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shirley
on July 1, 2013Sorry your leaving F1 we will be losing a driver who is very poular not afraid to say what he thinks and is well respected for this.Good Luck for the future in all you do.
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Maurice
on July 1, 2013Well done Mark we will miss you
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stu
on July 1, 2013great race Mark – shame about the start which left the win begging. the whole F1 paddock was on the edge watching you edge closer to Nico. Great finish to your Silverstone appearances. Germany here you come!!
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brian murray
on July 1, 2013well done Mark….good to see you are still on top of your game. Maybe at porche you will get the “good”machinery
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jim c
on July 2, 2013Hi Mark,sorry to hear you’re leaving f1,been watching you race in f1 since your debut,won’t seem the same without you on the grid.
Good luck for the future. -
Ballssss Out
on July 2, 2013Top effort Mark……hope u get win number 10!!!!!!!
Shame u wont go on in 2014 inF1….but kick some ass in the Porsche -
Syed
on July 2, 2013Wow, Mark! What a drive, probably this was the best you had till now this year. After the 1st lap, I thought of switching the TV off seeing you at 15, but then it became one of the best as a fan of yours. Also it is so sad to realize only a few races left to watch you in F1. Wish you all the best and want to see you on podium for all the races left in this year. You cn do it and like me, all your fans are counting on you. Go, Mark, go!
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Sabine Strack
on July 2, 2013Great race Mark!
I`ll miss you in F1, but I wish you all the best for the new challange.
Now I`m looking forward seeing you at the nurburgring. We are sitting in the first Corner and cheering you on!Greetings from Germany!
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Jen
on July 2, 2013First time at Silverstone and so glad I got to see you race! You will be missed loads . All the best x
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Beáta
on July 2, 2013Hi Mark,
It was a wonderful and exciting race (except for Pirelli tyres… grrr), your performance was amazing! Well done, very well done! Congratulations! Greetings from Hungary! -
George
on July 2, 2013Fantastic job Mark, you can’t control the car parts you get , we’ve seen that in the past and must be so hard to always keep your mouth closed on how team strategy play out so not to upset Red Bull. However this time the team gave you their best .
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clinton
on July 2, 2013truly unbelievable mark….I’d have to rate your last british gp as one of your most entertaining races…. not many drivers can say they carved up 13 other top drivers on their way to a podium in their last year of f1…! another lap and rosberg would have been an easy swoop with DRS too, but he got luckys..a stunning, world class drive….
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Joshua Triantafilo
on July 2, 2013Mark, at home you are a legend to my family and I wanted to share with you what my son Jeffrey wrote:”Mark Webber to retire. Thanks for your honesty, finesse and for always sticking it to the man. Congrats on the 9GP’s and the 3 Constructors championships. Sorry about your miserable luck at times. Enjoy your time at Porsche! Cheers to a remarkable Aussie”
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Bob MacLennan
on July 2, 2013Mark what a career,you have done yourself proud and Australia.Thanks for the ride, look forward to
the next ride with Porsche -
lojtra
on July 2, 2013Great drive, to bad for start but end was just superb. We wait for next race and win!
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psycho budgie
on July 3, 2013Brilliant drive, very exciting to watch you come through the field to finish second – looking forward to next weekend. 😀
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Boris
on July 3, 2013That’s was a brillant drive. I can’t wait to see you in Germany hopefully we will see you in P1.
Half a season to go, hopefully we will see you take the championship this year, it would be like icing on the cake. All the best. -
Deborah Bolognesi
on July 4, 2013What a fantastic race Mark!! True Aussie Grit! You will be missed, F1 is going to lose not only a great driver but also a great man. I’ve been watching F1 for years but it won’t be same without seeing your helmet on the grid. I’m very proud to be your fan and I’ll keep supporting you in your new challenge with Porsche, surely I’ll start watching WEC!:-) All the best for Germany this week, you can do it! Greetings from Italy.
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jay
on July 4, 2013FANTASTIC RACE MARK!! WOW!!!! It was, without peer, the most exciting, nail biting, thrilling race I have ever seen! Again, the MYSTERIOUS LAUNCH PROBLEM manifested in your car…but not Vettels…hmmm…too many times this has happened, excluding possible mistakes by you, it leaves one to suspect someone is turning down yourengine remotely…I wonder? Anyhoo, just one more lap and you would have had the gorgeous “Marilyn”, as you cheekily referred to him a few years back, when he had longer flowing golden locks! So, okay, the win would have been the greatest of paybacks to the petulent and megalomanic Germanic one, but, those points have some in handy, and, you gave the locals, and the world of F1 fans a fabulously entertaining day. Thank you, an God Bless You and may you thrash EVERYONE at the Nurburgring…wouldn’t that be just peachy? hehe!
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Karen
on July 5, 2013Great race Mark another lap and it would have been yours. It will be a sad day especially for me and your fans when you leave f1, it won,t be the same without you. Good luck for Sunday in Germany top of the podium please.
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Nik
on July 5, 2013Wow, Mark we came to see you this year at silverstone clearly the fastest guy on track. gutted you did’nt come onto the stage at the end, we wanted to tell you we would see you at le mans mate. good luck 2010 still the best season you’v had, but this ones not finnised yet…… 🙂
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