10 2002 AUSTRALIAN GP
MELBOURNE MINARDI PS02 5TH
Webber laid down a marker on his Formula 1 debut by qualifying 18th for his home grand prix, ahead of the Jaguar team, a Jordan and Alex Yoong in the other Minardi-Asiatech.
When Ralf Schumacher’s Williams triggered an eight-car collision at the first corner, Webber was elevated to eighth and recalled team owner Paul Stoddart’s pre-race instructions. “‘Stoddy’ said, ‘If you could just bring this thing home, that would be phenomenal.’
“It was a dog to drive. I didn’t fit in the cockpit, didn’t have power steering, then a lot of the electronics packed up and I had no diff control, the traction control played up and there was a problem getting the fuel filler flap to open at a pitstop. It seemed a bloody long race.”
Webber’s persistence got him into fifth in the closing stages, but he still faced a challenge to score Minardi’s first points since 1999.
“I’m short-shifting and doing everything to stay running in what has become fifth place,” adds the 46-year-old. “And then [Mika] Salo arrives in the Toyota. ‘Stoddy’ gets on the radio and says, ‘Under no circumstances let him past!’ So, the pre-race brief has obviously changed!
“I gave it everything, defending into [Turn] 3, and he spins off. I could hear the crowd; they were going mental! I was only supposed to have two races. ‘Stoddy’ said I could stay for the year.”
Drive secured, he also famously got to go to the podium (above) on his F1 debut,
