2009 GERMAN GP

When Webber took his first GP victory, the release of emotion was loud – and very long. With his right arm thrashing the air and his left thumb on the radio button, Webber’s primordial yell and constant repetition of “Yes! Yes! Yes!” was charged by the liberation of a self-belief frequently snarled in frustration during 130 attempts.

Typically, this win had not been easy – Webber’s first pole position was compromised by a drivethrough penalty following a first-corner clash of wheels with the Brawn of Rubens Barrichello. The head-down response and string of fast laps added to the untrammelled joy when the chequered flag gave Australia its first GP winner in 28 years.

“The first win was obviously a huge milestone,” reflects Webber. “I believed I had been ready for it earlier in my career but, for lots of different reasons, that didn’t happen. So, the pressure valve just blew wide open!

“It was crucial that this had not been a race of attrition. I hadn’t been gifted the win; it was on my terms. I’d had a tough off-season after breaking my leg [during a charity endurance cycling event in Tasmania]. I’d had a tricky first part of the year in terms of conditioning and fitness. Despite being on pole, I didn’t get off the line well and momentarily lost sight of Rubens. It wasn’t until I hit him that I realised where he was. When I got that drivethrough, I did think, ‘Ah mate, here we go again.’ But as soon as I left the pits, I just outdrove and outstrategised the whole field that day, which was super-rewarding.

“It was all about knowing I could do that. This was a genuine result at the highest level. So, with all of that and everything that had gone on during the past eight years in F1, the relief as I crossed the line was absolutely massive.”