Mark Webber
The talented Australian driver did not have the easiest entry into Formula One. Webber struggled to enter the notoriously expensive sport early on, and it would take him years before Australian tycoon Paul Stoddart agreed to underwrite the budget for him to test for Arrows in 1999.
Even after his talent was noticed, Webber was not very lucky, losing out on a test driver spot to Fernando Alonso that year.
He finally made his debut in 2002, at his home race – the Australian Grand Prix, for Minardi, known for being one of the least financially viable teams on the grid, with a car that lacked the power or aerodynamics of the others and a team seriously short on budget. He qualified low, in 18th, and began the race near the back of the grid.
The Australian raced the entire track with a faulty launch control and a broken differential, pushing on to race as a shunt between Rubens Barichello and Ralf Schumacher forced a number of other drivers to retire.
Webber’s biggest competition following the issue was the experienced Finn Mika Salo, whom he managed to fend off, with the Australian finishing in 5th and becoming only the fourth Australian driver to score championship points.
