Mark Webber’s 2002 debut is etched forever in the magical moments of Formula 1. Starting with Minardi, a team with a history spanning over two decades, was a team that had always fought an uphill battle against its bigger, more well-funded rivals. Having been rescued by Paul Stoddart in 2001, the team brought on Fernando Alonso for his debut season, only to see him leave for Renault the very next year. But the Spaniard’s replacement was no ordinary driver. He was soon to become a legendary Australian driver.

With Mark’s debut in Australia and his finishing fifth, the team collected two points, a point more than it had collected in over six years in the sport! It was a moment of pride and celebration for the squad, and its importance was felt across the paddock as well as the entire country. What made it more special was an extra podium, especially arranged and permitted by former F1 owner and mogul, Bernie Ecclestone. This has been the only time such a podium has been given.

Narrating the incident of Mark Webber’s special and one-of-a-kind podium, the then-team principal, Paul Stoddart, recalled the special event at the F1 Beyond the Grid podcast, saying, “And I’m saying, Ron, if you cleared this with Max and Bernie yes, I’ve cleared it. I said, are you sure? Because they can strip us for the points. He said yes. I’ve absolutely cleared it. So Mark and I, looking somewhat a little bit nervous, go up on the podium. The crowd is just unbelievable. They’ve now filled the pit lane and we’ve got, I don’t know, easy 10,000 people standing out there.”

“And of course, they got the champagne up there and they gave us Boxing Kangaroos, believe it or not because they couldn’t give us trophies and Australian flag and all that good stuff. And then music started and I thought, please don’t play the national anthem, we will be done for this. And to all ex-pat Australians, the old Qantas theme song “I Still call Australia Home” is pretty emotional, and that’s what they played. So you had me and Mark in tears, champagne going everywhere, a very happy Melbourne crowd.”

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The two points won by Mark Webber were the only two that the team won in the entire year. It was probably the destiny of the Australian that got him the result and an iconic podium in Australia.

Dream of having Mark Webber and Fernando Alonso together

Minardi didn’t enjoy much success in its entire journey. However, they are credited with launching several drivers onto the scene, including Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber. But for the team’s boss, the dream was to have both of them together at the same time.

Stoddart, as quoted by Racing News 365, said, “My dream team as a team owner was to have Mark and Fernando in the same car at the same time,” while hailing Alonso as the one with an edge over Mark and regarding him as “there with the best of the best.” For Alonso, the move to Renault proved right, becoming one more gift from Minardi to F1.

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The two drivers later had successful careers in the sport. A team of the later rivals and friends would have been interesting to see. The fights and the dominance in the right car would certainly have been a force to reckon with. Alas, it was a dream too good to have come true.