It’s been a long wait, but today Mark Webber finally became a Grand Prix winner.
Webber has ended the longest ever wait for a Grand Prix driver to score his first win, finally breaking his duck after 130 attempts (plus two non-starts).
The previous record holder was Rubens Barrichello, who took 124 attempts to lodge his first win. That was also in Germany – at the Hockenheimring – in 2000.
The four other drivers who took more than 100 starts to score their maiden wins are all racing in F1 today:
Rubens Barrichello – 124 (2000 German Grand Prix)
Jarno Trulli – 117 (2004 Monaco Grand Prix)
Jenson Button – 113 (2006 Hungarian Grand Prix)
Giancarlo Fisichella – 110 (2003 Brazilian Grand Prix)
Webber is the first Australian to win a Grand Prix since Alan Jones won the 1981 United States Grand Prix at Las Vegas for Williams. (This was also the last Grand Prix before I was born!)
That was supposed to be Jones’s final appearance in an F1 car, but he made two subsequent (unsuccessful) comebacks with Arrows in 1983 and Lola, in 1985-6.
Earlier this year Webber became the Australian driver to have started the most races, surpassing Sir Jack Brabham’s record of 126 starts. Brabham won the 1959, 1960 and 1966 world championships, and 14 Grands Prix.
Between them, these three drivers account for all of Australia’s 27 Grand Prix wins. They are tenth in the all-time list of most victorious Grand Prix nations, behind the United States, with 33.
Webber’s last major win was in F3000 in the French round at Magny-Cours in 2001. Also racing that day were future F1 drivers Justin Wilson (third), Enrique Bernoldi (fourth), Franck Montagny (seventh), Sebastien Bourdais (tenth), Tomas Enge (13th), Stephane Sarrazin (19th) and Christijan Albers (DNF).
Read more: Mark Webber biography
Bartholomew
12th July 2009, 17:24
Congratulations to Mark Weber !
Nice guys also finish first
Dave M
12th July 2009, 18:02
“Nice guy”?! His chop at the start is just the latest in a long line of dirty racing manoeuvres from him, if their wheels had touched there would have been a very serious accident.
Nik
12th July 2009, 18:23
“long line of dirty racing manoevres” ???
this isn’t tiddlywinks
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
12th July 2009, 19:08
It was close and it was tough but it was clean – I’ve seen a lot worse that didn’t get penalties.
neracer
13th July 2009, 12:58
I’ve seen a lot less receive penalties!
MartyP
13th July 2009, 10:22
I agree that Webber’s move on Rubens at the start was unnecessarily aggressive, but I can’t think of any other examples where he has driven like that. Did you have any particular incidents in mind DaveM? I know that Webber had an altercation with Alonso at Bahrain in 04, but I think that was more of a misunderstanding than unfair driving.
I’ve certainly never thought of Webber as a ‘dirty’ driver but I’m interested to know what others think.
Arun Srini
13th July 2009, 11:13
Please watch IndyCar, boring parade, may be of more meaning to you…
Tom
13th July 2009, 14:17
i think it is the first penalty i have ever seen handed to him. no idea what you’re on about. probably the cleanest driver out there
Andy
13th July 2009, 14:31
I thought Webber was a bit aggressive, but it pales in comparison to the old ‘Schumi Chop’.
I don’t think he should have been penalised. After all (as others have already mentioned) we’ve seen worse. However, seeing as Mark put in a stunning drive, his punishment was ultimately irrelevant and all the victory sweeter.
Macca
17th July 2009, 6:41
if you want to know if it was unfair or not just ask other drivers. Noone hade a problem with it so there should never have been a penalty.
Well done Webber, you deserve it mate, now go on and win the championship.
Indranil Dudhane
12th July 2009, 17:35
Which other current driver has driven more races and is yet to win? Quick Nick? Anyone else?
TommyB
12th July 2009, 17:36
So pleased for Mark. Was a much to good F1 driver to never win a race
Sergiy Sh
12th July 2009, 18:46
And what about poor Nick? :)
Vetalonton
12th July 2009, 19:19
Yeah Nick should be a GP winner and not Kubica. He should have won Canada 2008
LewisC
14th July 2009, 12:52
“Poor” being the operative word.
IMO. ;)
Ninad
12th July 2009, 17:46
Great race by him, despite of drive-through penalty!!
Sam
12th July 2009, 17:48
There should definitely be a caption competition for that picture. Sex face anyone?
Good on you Mark, a well deserved victory
Daniel
12th July 2009, 18:08
And now another question for your future facts and stats article: when was the last time a driver won a race, despite having a drive through penalty? I honestly don’t remeber if this have ever happened before…
I think Mark Webber deserved to win and I’m glad to see that no one will ever question his victory, because he received a fair punishment on track and had the merit (and the pace) to recover the seconds lost in the driver through… all laurels to him!
HounslowBusGarage
12th July 2009, 18:39
Wouldn’t that have been Schumacher when he won the British GP in 199-whenever? He had been goiven a drive through for something and served it at the end of the race . . . Never fully understood it, or how he wasn’t disqualified.
persempre
12th July 2009, 18:57
That Silverstone 1998 & a stop-go, I think, Hounslow.
Because the penalty wasn’t given until 3 laps from the end Schumacher served it at the end of the race. Entirely within the regs as the finish line extends across both the track & the pitlane. You don’t have to be on track to cross the line in first place.
I think you are right that he did also win after serving a drive-through penalty but can’t remember when, sorry.
JSC
12th July 2009, 18:55
Michael Schumacher won the Canadian Grand Prix in 1998 after taking a 10 second stop/go (not a simple drive-through) penalty for swerving across Frentzen and bundling him off the track as the Ferrari exited the pits.
I think Schumacher also won in spite of a drive-through penalty for crossing the white line on the pit exit at France in 2002, when he took his fifth title.
persempre
12th July 2009, 19:10
Yes, it was Magny-Cours 2002. You’re absolutely right, JSC.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
12th July 2009, 19:12
We had this discussion on the live blog and came up with the answer of Schumacher at Magny-Cours in 2002. Any advances on that?
SiY
17th September 2009, 9:29
Using some slightly convoluted logic, Keith, how about Nico Rosberg in Singapore last year?
I jest, of course…
Tony Kalkman
12th July 2009, 18:50
I am a biased Aussie, and also i have to say very very happy. Mark won the race in the 3 laps before he did his drive through, he got enough of a lead over Kovalinen and stayed in contact with Barrichello through his first stop.
Fer no.65
12th July 2009, 19:00
Probably the worse fact we’ve seen here :P jaja, kidding!
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
12th July 2009, 19:13
Pardon my ego for throwing that in :-)
TommyB
12th July 2009, 19:25
Keith,
Last person to win an F1 race with a drive-through penalty??
TommyB
12th July 2009, 19:31
oops just read the comments
Terrence Phillip
12th July 2009, 20:10
This is an ultra nerdy comment, but Bernoldi was driving for Arrows in 2001- does that mean he was driving in F1 and F3000 at the same time?
And one other thing- how come some people have little pictures beside their name and comments? I want one too!
Tom L
13th July 2009, 13:18
The results posted by Keith are actually from the 2000 Silverstone round, which Webber won, and when Bernoldi was still in the F3000 field. In the Magny-Cours round of 2001, Webber’s last major win before yesterday, the following future F1 drivers were in the field: Mark Webber 1st, Justin Wilson 2nd, Tomas Enge 3rd, Patrick Friesacher 4th, Sebastien Bourdais 6th, Giorgio Pantano 8th, Antonio Pizzonia 10th, and Zsolt Baumgartner DNF.
F1Fan
12th July 2009, 21:02
This RBR car is simply awesome. I am sensing that they will dominate the 2nd half of the season and we will have a great championship battle once again. Webber did the only thing he could, to try and screw up his chances of a win – yet again, but fortunately for him the car is simply extraordinarily fast. Brawn also gifted him quite a few seconds thanks to Rubens’s rig ‘mistake’.
James H
12th July 2009, 22:06
Congratulation Mark Webber, this has been a long time coming.
Zazeems
12th July 2009, 22:07
Liked the bit about the last race before you were born :)
Incidentally the last Grand Prix before I was born was Imola ’94 :(
persempre
12th July 2009, 22:16
Oh heck.
Fangio & Gonzalez were racing when I was born & I know I’m not the oldest on here!
Pink Peril
12th July 2009, 22:19
Australians all let us rejoice
for Webber won the Grand Prix
with driving on the boil
and lots of toil
our home is cheering with glee
Our land abounds with Santanders gifts
of beauty, rich and rare
in historys page, of every stage
Advance Australia Fair
In joyful strains then let us sing
for Webber won the grand prix !!
:):):):):):):)
The Limit
12th July 2009, 22:29
Nice piece Keith. It really puts into perspective Mark Webber’s achievement in that it is twenty eight years since an Australian last won an F1 race. How proud must Mark’s family and friends be now? Melbourne 2010 will certainly benefit in ticket sales if Webber can knock out a couple more P1’s before this season is over and the pervert is kicked out.
In many ways, Mark Webber is a bit like Alan Jones. He is a tough cookie, very fast, and in typical Australian style speaks his minds openly.
After quali three weeks ago, Webber was not so polite to Raikkonen after the Finn ‘apparently’ ruined his hot lap. Some drivers mince their words, but not Mark!
I like that in a human being, and for modern day F1 it is refreshingly different. Years ago, when the great Alan Jones was approached by a rival if he was prepared to ‘bury the hatchet’, the Australian’s reply was instant and to the bone. ‘Yeah, I’ll bury the hatchet. In the back of his ****ing head!’ Like I said, refreshingly different.
May the amber necture flow!
Tom
13th July 2009, 14:25
like in fuji after vettel took himm out in 07 – “these kids come in and do such a great job and then **** it all up”
Andy
13th July 2009, 14:35
Ahh yes, a classic Webber quote there Tom :)
jess
12th July 2009, 22:45
Good race, Glad to see Weber get a win (boy was he happy on the radio). I hate it wen FOX runs airs the Race instead of SPEED. Next to no prerace show and the same for the post race.
Tom
13th July 2009, 14:29
yehhhhh, yehhhh, you f***ing beauty!!!!! yes, yes yes” to be exact (webber on the radio that is)
Dane
12th July 2009, 22:56
Webber, you little ripper!!!
TeamOrders
12th July 2009, 23:11
What a terrific win by Webber. He had the measure of his team mate today, and the RBR has the measure of the rest of the field.
PrisonerMonkeys
13th July 2009, 0:15
It’s great to see Webber win, but the Australian commentators are going to be insufferable …
Pink Peril
13th July 2009, 1:27
What, like the British are when Lewis or Jenson wins ;)
andy
16th July 2009, 18:34
a cute girl into f1 oh this year is the best :-)
Jorge
13th July 2009, 1:49
..and the most insufferables of all commentators, the spanish!!!
wasiF1
13th July 2009, 1:59
Great job Webber.I do think he deserves the penalty as he made quite an unnecessary move
What do you think?Let me know
jess
13th July 2009, 3:55
I do agree, he did but he still took the penalty and still got the “w”. Best Car won even with a Penealty how many times can we say that.
Bookgrub
13th July 2009, 6:11
I think the penalty decision could have gone either way fairly.
He neither impeded another car, nor damaged it.
However, he did move off his line sharply and caused a collision.
His explanation after the race seemed perfectly reasonable – Barichello was starting on the dirty side of the track, and Webber, unsighted, could easily have reasoned Barichello would have moved to the left for a cleaner run.
He acknowledged the contact, took the penalty, moved on and dominated the race.
savage
13th July 2009, 7:30
well done mark webber , only slight niggle was how hamilton would have faired or how he might have altered the results if he had not had the first corner incident .
webber was quick all day but ruebens race might have been different again had hamilton been in there but i don’t think lewis would have won .
I’m enjoying this season a bit more now.
The_Pope
13th July 2009, 7:45
Here I was thinking Jean Alesi was missing from that list, but he needed “only” 100-odd stats for his first victory. But then again, he went on to contest another 100 (201 in total) and still only had that one win.
Here’s hoping this one won’t be Webbo’s last! :)
Adrian
13th July 2009, 10:30
Congratulations to Mark – thoroughly deserved the win..!!
If Jenson doesn’t win the WDC then I hope it’s Mark…
Tom
13th July 2009, 14:26
if mark doesn’t win, i hope it’s no one. go webber!!
PJA
13th July 2009, 10:41
Great race by Webber and a thoroughly deserved victory.
Johnny Bop
13th July 2009, 12:13
Does anyone know how many laps Webber did after he was informed that he had a drive through penalty? The rules state you must come in by your 3rd lap, I think Webber did more than 3 laps.
Ace
13th July 2009, 14:53
3 laps.
Tom
14th July 2009, 13:43
yeh i recorded the race and double checked after reading your comment. it was within 3
Jonnym82
13th July 2009, 12:39
Fair play to Mark Webber,the whole race I was praying the gremlins didnt get him. As for mr Legards foot in mouth syndrome which could have set the Jinx thankfully that didnt materialise. Mark has proven he has the ability to take the Red Bull fight to Brawn and whether Jenson, Mark or Sebastian win the championship it will we well worth watching the rest of this season
Tom
15th July 2009, 1:31
i laughed when jegard said ‘run over too many black cats’.
Tom
15th July 2009, 1:31
of course i mean to say legard
Lionheart
14th July 2009, 1:52
As an Aussie, I have never liked, nor will I like Mark Webber. He is your typical Aussie male and a throwback to the 70’s, bigotted, tall poppy syndrome and woe is me are Webber’s ethics. His racial slur against Lewis Hamilton last year in a society supposedly hell bent on stamping out racism was nothing short of apalling. It makes it OK to reckon a fellow professional gets preferential treatment because he is black….of course it does, you get another shot at winning a GP.
Pr!ck
Ace
14th July 2009, 4:40
I’m with karne on this one. You’re being a bit of a clown. Mark is known as one of F1’s sporting nice guys. You’re trippin.
Tom
14th July 2009, 13:41
yeh, no idea what on earth you are on about lionheart. do you know what tall poppy syndrome is??? he is the first guy to congratulate fellow winners and the first to thank the team with success. least selfish driver out there i would say. he also said hamilton would kill someone with his driving style. another incident of the wonderful misleading media. much like global warming really…
tapyarg
14th July 2009, 5:33
As an Aussie, I have never liked, nor will I like Lionheart. He is your typical Aussie male and a throwback to the 80’s, cutting down tall poppies and making generalisations is Lionheart’s way. His comment in regards to Webber’s supposed racial slur against Lewis Hamilton last year was nothing short of appalling.
Sorry Lionheart, just a light hearted jest in response as I really cannot relate to your opinion on this!!
Dileep
14th July 2009, 15:26
Webber’move on Barichello at the start – deliberate. The stewards decision to penalize him – harsh.
Overall, the German Grand Prix was quite interesting.
Ollie
15th July 2009, 16:53
I think that Webber should have been disqualified and called up on the carpet for his action. There was a time when F1 was a gentlemen’s sport but that obviously has changed. I now have reason to wonder after 50 years if I’m going to follow this ‘sport’ any longer.
karne
16th July 2009, 7:46
For goodness’ sake, he couldn’t see him! He had no idea Rubens was there! How the hell is that a disqualifiable offence?!
And shall we mention that it was Rubens, who everyone seems to have victimized, that cost Mark any chance of a decent finish in Australia – and it wasn’t even investigated?
andy
16th July 2009, 18:40
you have seriously got to get off the drugs man , gentlemans sport lol, thats tennis dude, every driver out there hate losing if they didnt they would not be there get a grip on reality man
Ollie
16th July 2009, 19:23
Well I guess that you guys set me straight. For years I’ve been trying to understand why anyone would hold Senna and Schumacher in esteem and now I understand. Perhaps your new hero will give them a run for their rudeness. Given that Jim Clark remains my F1 hero I guess that F1 has passed me by so it’s time for me to move along. Enjoy the carnage my friends as Mr. Webber will surely succeed at killing someone one day given what I witnessed in this race.
Tom
17th July 2009, 4:33
haha, yoou make me laugh. you should pursue a career in stand up comdedy. like carl baron, you could exaggerate observations. i see the talent already.
Humility Reigns
17th July 2009, 21:49
Ollie, I for one agree with you entirely then again I try to be open-minded. Don’t get trapped into debating with arrogant and condescending colony youth that frequent this blog.
Gman
16th July 2009, 20:46
Great deal- I’m most happy for Mark. Hopefully he’ll get a few more over the course of the season.
Glenn Fernandes
20th July 2009, 10:26
Mark Webber is simply amazing.He won the race in style.This is his first race win in his long Formula 1 career with 133 races which started with Minardi in 2002. He is now a Grand Prix winner.For more details refer http://www.dailysportsnews.org/formula-1-mark-webber-takes-first-career-victory/
scott
8th December 2009, 5:48
I dont think many of you know webber well if you watch barachalos onbord camera these thing happen
1. webber checks mirrors
2. move over 1m
3. checks mirrors again
4. hit rubens and instantly backs off
its quite clear this is a classic case of the car being in the blind spot
even i am suprised somtimes when i check my mirros and then a car come out of no were. and this is a 70km/h on the road let alone a race track at 100+ kmph