Mark Webber expressed that he was deeply moved by the support he received from his peers in Formula 1 as he geared up for his final grand prix at Interlagos.
The Australian driver will conclude his F1 career following the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend, transitioning to Porsche’s new Le Mans 24 Hours and World Endurance Championship program.
While Webber managed to maintain his composure leading up to the event, he did acknowledge that the encouragement from his fellow drivers had impacted him emotionally.
“The drivers’ briefing was quite memorable as the guys gave me a really warm reception, and I had a brief chat with them, which was lovely,” he remarked.
“The colleagues I’ve competed with over 17 years are the ones I’ve worked so hard alongside, so it impacts you significantly; it’s quite moving.
“It felt fantastic to receive such a warm welcome from them.
“That moment served as a bit of a wake-up call for me.
“I wouldn’t want the level of interest surrounding my last weekend to be something I experience regularly, but it has certainly been quite touching.
“The messages I’ve received from around the world have been truly remarkable. That aspect has been very, very special to me.”
Webber recognized that leaving F1 on a high note is a rarity for most drivers and hopes to break that mold by stepping away on his own terms.
“Most drivers find that their final race comes under certain circumstances that explain why it’s their last, and usually, it’s not because they’re at the peak of their career,” Webber stated.
“It could be that they weren’t aware it was their last race or faced other unplanned challenges in the winter.
“For me, I’m fully aware this is my final race, and I intend to give it my all.
“There might be fleeting thoughts crossing my mind here and there, but I need to focus on keeping those at bay and concentrate on the task ahead.”
He mentioned that he did not dwell on his impending retirement during qualifying, where he secured fourth place on the grid.
“I didn’t think about that even once during qualifying,” Webber noted. “Perhaps when I get into the car for the last time and step out, that will elicit the strongest emotions.
“But if I’m reaching for the Kleenex, it means I’ve made the wrong decision, so I’m content with my final race approaching and will give my best.”
