19/04/2013
NEWS STORY
Mat Coch writes:
Mark Webber will line up for his 200th Grand Prix this weekend, becoming just the thirteenth man in the sport's 64-year history to reach the milestone.
The Bahrain weekend will be Webber's 202nd F1 weekend, though he failed to start the Spanish Grand Prix for Minardi in 2002, and was among those who withdrew from the United States Grand Prix in 2005.
The Australian holds the unenviable record for the most number of races before his first win, 130, though since joining Red Bull in 2007 he has claimed nine Grands Prix victories.
His first win came despite a drive-through penalty for causing a collision as the field accelerated off the line at the German Grand Prix in 2009.
"Nurburgring was my day," he said. "To win with a drive-through penalty is quite unique."
Two Monaco Grand Prix wins are also fond memories for the sport's elder statesman, though strangely neither are his favourite race.
"The Monaco wins are incredibly special for me," he admitted, "as are the British Grands Prix.
"It's easy to have the wins as your favourites but there are clearly some other races where you've performed very, very well," he said.
"I think in 2010, the race in Suzuka with Sebastian (Vettel) and I. Both of us were on the limit for the whole Grand Prix… both of us pushing for the whole Grand Prix, that was quite a rewarding race."
Tensions between Webber and Red Bull have punctuated the latter half of his career, most notably with teammate Sebastian Vettel, and came to a head at the Malaysia Grand Prix last month.
It prompted renewed speculation that 2013 could be Webber's last Formula One season, with suggestions he was set to join Porsche in endurance racing on a five year deal. Not a new rumour, and one the Red Bull driver denied to Pitpass in February, saying he was "not thinking about anything other than 2013".