Spinning a new Webb: Red Bull star excited for fresh challenge after F1... but regrets decision not to join Renault in 2005



‘I turned it down unfortunately, that’s the way it goes. It wasn’t the best decision in the end.’

Anyone who has been watching Formula One in recent years, wouldn’t be surprised if the above quote from Mark Webber was a reference to having an opportunity to get his hands around the neck of Sebastian Vettel.

Anyone who has been watching the sport much longer though will realise that Webber’s time at the pinnacle of motor racing has been much more than constant bust-ups with his Red Bull team-mate.

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Trailing: Infinity Red Bull Racing driver Mark Webber races F1 fan at Geox's in-store promotion at John Lewis

Swansong: Webber will retire at the end of the current World Championship

End of an era: Webber has been in F1 for 11 years, making his debut for Minardi in 2002

At the end of the current season, the Australian will retire from the sport to as one of the field’s longest serving drivers, having made his debut for the humble Minardi team in 2002, and venture back into the world of endurance racing with Porsche.

For the last seven years the 37-year-old has enjoyed his career with arguably the most successful outfit currently in the sport, Red Bull – where he only just missed out on the 2010 world drivers’ title.

But the quote at the top of this page is in fact a reference from the Australian turning down arguably a greater opportunity to grab the world title - when he declined to partner Fernando Alonso at Renault in 2005.

The role then went to Giancarlo Fisichella who teamed with the Spaniard, with Alonso then going on to win consecutive world championships and end Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari led dominance.

Team-mates: Webber and Vettel (left) have endured a complicated relationship at Red Bull

Swapping agenda: Webber announced that he would be leaving Red Bull at the end of the season, having signed for Porsche to drive their new LMP1 car in 2014

Webber instead elected to leave Jaguar (now Red Bull) and join the ailing Williams team for two years. The Australian, then aged 28, was at his peak but sadly the Grove outfit were not and Webber could only struggle for points while Renault emerged from 10 years of relative wilderness to clean up both championships two years running.

Webber rejoined Red Bull in 2007 and although the championship boat has passed the Australian, much due to the emergence of Vettel, the second-half of his career has seen him challenge for titles and become a race winner.

But not even that has been enough to keep Webber motivated towards competing for another year in the sport and he admitted that despite interest from other teams, his diminishing passion for F1 is a key factor for departing at the end of the season.

Webber told Sportsmail: ‘In the last few years in F1 I knew the desire and passion was starting to wane a little bit and it’s not a sport you should be competitive in if you’re not giving it 100 per cent.

Should have: Webber regrets the decision not to join Fernando Alonso (above) at Renault in 2005

Fernando Alonso

‘I decided back in December before the preparation for the new season, so I’m looking forward to the new challenge with Porsche in the Sportscar championship – including racing at Le Mans.

‘There were still F1 teams sniffing around – and there still are now - but my decision has already been made and I’m happy with it and I look forward to the future.

‘Endurance racing is easily as close to the cars in F1. They are very, very quick if not on par with F1 in certain situations.’

Webber’s departure from Red Bull will mean that for the first time since 2009, the team will field a new driver pairing in retaining world championship leader Vettel and current Toro Rosso driver Daniel Ricciardo.

On top: Webber has had nine wins and 38 podiums in his time in Formula One

The young Australian has produced solid results for what is in effect the junior Red Bull team, but he has hardly dominated team-mate Jean-Eric Vergne.

There are question marks over whether he can take the fight to the triple world champion, Vettel, next term and continue to help Red Bull lead the way.

Webber though has backed his compatriot to not just to be competitive, but also seriously challenge Vettel. The Australian also predicts that as long as chief designer Adrian Newey remains at the team, Red Bull will continue to dominate.

Webber added: ‘Ricciardo will be fine, he’ll win races and he’ll do very well but he needs to get under Seb’s collar pretty early to make it a good battle.

‘Certainly the next few years they will look strong – especially with Adrian Newey. I think it was 2009 with the big regulation changes that Adrian could stamp his authority on the car and start from scratch.

Continue: Webber believes Red Bull look strong for the future, especially with Adrian Newey (right) on board

‘His cars are tight to fit into but that’s been the story of my career! I’m not exactly a jockey to get into the cars but we’ve worked together on that and it’s been okay.’

The last massive change in the regulations in 2009 helped turn Red Bull into a front running team and Webber has admitted that a significant change in the rules next season has aided his departure.

However, the Australian has called for changes to be made regarding the tyres in the sport – claiming the current style of racing is too conservative.

The former Jaguar and Williams driver added that a tyre war, not seen since the famous battles between Michelin and Bridgestone from 2001-2006 would be favoured by the drivers on the grid.

Webber said: ‘When Pirelli arrived in 2011, the cars became a bit easier to drive. The grip is a lot lower now but the downforce is still good.

‘When we used to have a tyre war, cars were always driven on the edge and there were a lot more mistakes in races because drivers were always on the edge basically driving qualifying laps from start to finish.

All change: Daniel Ricciardo will take over from Webber next season

‘They’re difficult to drive now – don’t get me wrong – but there was a huge amount of power, a huge amount of grip and it was very difficult to handle and control. Now it’s very much more about controlling the pace during the race and making sure you get the cars and the tyres more importantly to the end of the race.

‘The biggest change I have seen during my time in F1 were the switches in tyres from Bridgestone to Pirelli and the no refuelling in term of how many pitstops we had to make.

‘For the drivers we would love to have a tyre war as it forces the companies to make phenomenon products. When you have a spec-tyre it isn’t the same… I would always have a tyre war and I think the rest of the drivers would too.’

So as his F1 career comes to a closure in the next couple of months, how does Webber’s relationship with Vettel stand?

Forward: Webber has made his decision and is looking forward to his future in the Sportscar championship

There is visible unease between the pair whenever they are in close quarters, but there is respect from the Australian who doesn’t hesitate to admit that the German alongside Fernando Alonso the finest driver he has competed against.

Vettel’s recent success has even led to boos and complaints from F1 fans claiming the sport has become predictable and boring, and Webber left one parting shot to hint that perhaps success on its own isn’t a sole reason to be jeered.

‘It’s the public’s choice, it’s up to them how they view what he’s doing’, said Webber. ‘When Michael [Schumacher] was winning a lot, people thought the same thing, people were getting bored of him winning all the time. But Usain Bolt and Roger Federer aren’t getting booed much…’