Adrian Newey can accept all the thanks for keeping Mark Weber in the pinnacle of Motorsport by producing a strong Formula One contender in the RB5 last season that took the Australian racer to two victories and the Red Bull team to second place in the 2009 championship standings.

After looking at the statistics it is hard to imagine how hard Webber had it at the start of the 2009, as he continued recuperation from a cycling accident over the winter months. Thinking back, he admitted that while he doesn’t know for sure, the possibility was there that he could have walked away from the sport....

"I don't know," Webber told the Australian press. "If we had a total shit box last year, maybe. It was a very tough start to the year for me mentally with the accident and if that was coupled with a tough season result-wise, it might have been enough to put water on the flame, but fortunately, it was enough to put petrol on it."

"Two or three years ago, I wasn't particularly enjoying it a huge amount and I wasn't a million miles away (from retirement) then. You have to be enjoying it and you have to be motivated. That fire has to keep going. Last year was very, very important in terms of the outlook on my whole career. The fire is burning now, I am getting up each day and I care and I am taking responsibility for myself.”