Mark Webber AO (b. 1976), racing driver, was born in Queanbeyan, NSW, and after early success in karting moved up through the ranks of Australian and European motor racing. In 2001 he joined the elite ranks of Formula 1, becoming official reserve and test driver with the Benetton team. His F1 racing debut came for the Minardi team in the 2002 Melbourne Grand Prix, where he finished fifth. Having moved to the Red Bull team in 2007, he won his first Grand Prix in Germany in 2009; over twelve years in the sport, he won nine races, including the Monaco and British Grand Prix twice each, and graced the podium 42 times. He spent three years racing for Porsche, becoming FIA drivers' world endurance champion, before retiring from driving altogether to pursue other extreme sports. In 2015 he published his autobiography, Aussie Grit.
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2006
© Robin Sellick
On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves.
Champion racing driver, Mark Webber, discusses his childhood and racing career.
An interview with photographer Robin Sellick about his portrait of golfing champion Adam Scott.
