The Raging Bull
I have to admit, I am somewhat surprised. It has been a week now since the Formula 1 season came to a close with the rather processional Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and where are all the usual end of year lists got to? There’s usually a deluge of the things in the press and on the Internet by now?
About the only one I have seen so far is Mark Hughes’ assessment of what he believes to be the five best drives of 2009, except I can’t help but feel he’s missed possibly the best of the lot: Mark Webber’s imperious performance at the German Grand Prix.
Webber triumphed despite penalty at the German GP © Getty Images
Coming to the Nurburgring, Sebastian Vettel had three poles and two wins. In reality though, there was barely a cigarette paper’s width between him and Webber, but that wasn’t the perception. So it was understandable if the doubts began to creep in, if Webber had overdriven, made a mistake and sealed his fate of a supporting role.
But grit and determination helped Webber win the race. Coupled with his talent and the brilliant Red Bull-Renault RB5, the Australian stamped his authority all over the whole race weekend. In Vettel’s back yard, he stuck it on pole and disappeared up the road, that even a questionable drive-through penalty was unable to derail him from clinching his maiden victory at the 130th time of asking.
And that’s what made it all the more fascinating to watch. He almost nearly didn’t win the German Grand Prix through the drive-through penalty for his clash with Rubens Barrichello as the race began. Perfectly, though, he recovered. He never gave up hope, and during his middle stint, as his tyres came into their prime, produced qualifying-like laps at almost two seconds per lap quicker than anyone else. His recovery and desire to not allow anything to ruin his day combined to define his focus.
But as Webber began to tick off the remaining laps, with nothing between him and the chequered flag, you couldn’t help feel that, Webber being Webber, a thousand different things could possibly go wrong to jeopardise his race. But after all that’s happened, after the broken leg in Tasmania, after driving the wheels of various shitboxes in the past, the dramas at Williams and the shunts at Le Mans... it finally happened: the most deserving and overdue maiden GP win I can remember.
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November 8th, 2009 - 12:01
It was a brilliant win, you’re right! And while everyone talks about Brawn’s fairy tale year, the truth is that Mark had one of those too. I was there and cheered for him and I think I made a few enemies amongst the Germans that wanted a Vettel win! Having seen him the night before it was quite clear that he was completely lost in his own thoughts (looking so different than on tv) and you could see the only thing he wanted is to get on with racing and finally win it!
That list has some other jokes in there, like Lewis “disappearing in the distance” in Singapore. That race was ruined when both Vettel and Rosberg got penalties. Lewis wasn’t looking like he was going to walk away with it until then!