Mark Webber discusses the constant feeling of F1 drivers being on an ejector seat
The world of sports, particularly Formula 1, is a world where the pressure of performance is rampant. Mark Weber knows this and opens up about his experiences as a driver on the "Performance Hackers" podcast.
With over 215 races under his belt, the Australian driver has experienced the highs and lows of competition at the highest level. He particularly mentions the mental strength that one must demonstrate.
Formula 1 doesn’t really guarantee a future, and the drivers know it. Without results, they can easily find themselves out of the game, and this possibility of being easily replaced hangs over their heads like a sword of Damocles.
According to Webber, there are two ways to deal with this pressure. « Of course, you can approach it negatively and complain that you are always “under the microscope”, but I always try to look at it in a positive way, left or right » he confides.
He also mentions his unstable beginnings. « My first contract in Formula 1, I signed it for two races, three weeks. It was very tough, of course, but I didn’t have a choice. It was the current situation. In the end, you can only give 100% in the moment. That doesn’t change, whether you have a five-year contract or just five months. The stopwatch doesn’t know you have a five-year contract. »
Mark Webber made the right decision to stay determined as he ultimately stayed in F1 for 12 years, finishing third in the drivers’ championship three times. He also won 9 Grand Prix races. During this period, he helped Red Bull finish first in the constructors’ championship four consecutive times.
The director of young driver development at Red Bull, Helmut Marko, has repeatedly shown that Formula 1 doesn’t give any gifts. Marko notably decided to replace Sébastien Bourdais during the season, and also moved Pierre Gasly back to AlphaTauri when the performances of the Normandy native alongside Max Verstappen were not meeting expectations at Red Bull.
