Mark Webber announces retirement from racing

Former F1 driver and World Endurance Champion Mark Webber has announced he will be retiring from racing at the end of the 2016 season. The 40 year-old is one of Australia’s most decorated international racers, picking up 9 wins in a lengthy F1 career spanning more than a decade before going on to enjoy world championship success with Porsche in endurance racing.

Making his F1 debut with Minardi in 2002, Webber progressed to Jaguar and Williams thereafter but he would enjoy the majority of his F1 success as part of the Red Bull Racing between 2007 and 2013.

Finishing third overall in 2010, 2011 and 2013, Webber switched to the World Endurance Championship with Porsche in 2014 and went on to win the title alongside Brendon Hartley and Timo Bernhard last year.

Ahead of this weekend’s Fuji 6 Hours, Webber says he wants to take a step back from racing but will remain with Porsche as a brand ambassador.

“It was a big change from Formula One to LMP1 and an entirely new experience,” he said. “But it came at the right time for me. I found I liked sharing a car and the chemistry between Timo, Brendon and me is special and something I’ll always remember.

“It will be strange getting into the race car for the very last time in Bahrain but for now I will thoroughly enjoy every moment of the remaining races.”