In the F1 Beyond the Grid podcast, former Minardi team principal Paul Stoddart barely held back tears as he recalled the 2002 Australian Grand Prix, when his driver Mark Webber scored two points for fifth place. stage.
The young Australian started 18th, but eight cars retired on the first lap, four retired along the course – and in his debut Formula 1 race, Mark finished fifth, earning two points – the only one for the team that season.
After the traditional podium ceremony with the participation of Michael Schumacher, Juan Pablo Montoya and Kimi Raikkonen, to the applause of the fans and in violation of protocol, two Australians climbed it – Paul Stoddart and Mark Webber.
Paul Stoddart: “We didn’t bring boxes of champagne to Minardi. Why is it for us? But that day, as soon as the race was over, I realized we were going to need it. I asked our boys to borrow it from other teams… and I still remember with excitement how the other teams carried boxes to our boxes.
This is the only time two podiums have been achieved in Formula 1. [Бывший промоутер Гран При Австралии] Ron Walker came up to Mark and me and said, ‘Come with me. You should be on the podium.” Steve Brex, then Prime Minister of Victoria, was there.
I thought we could be deprived of points for this, and asked Ron, “Have you agreed this with Mosley and Ecclestone? We will certainly not lose any points for that.” He answered positively.
So, Mark and I, a little nervous, go up to the podium, we see the crowd filling the pit lane. The audience reaction was incredible. They had champagne there. We got a figurine of a kangaroo with boxing gloves – we didn’t have a cup. The music started playing and I was like, “Oh no, please don’t play the national anthem.” For foreign Australians, the old Qantas theme song “I still call Australia my home” is quite emotional, and that’s what they played for us. Mark and I stood in tears, doused in champagne – happy for happy onlookers.
More than twenty years have passed. And now every year when I come to Melbourne for the Grand Prix, they ask me, “Do you remember that win in 2002?” It really felt like a win.”
Source: F1 News
I am Christopher Clyde, an experienced journalist and content writer with a passion for sports. I have been writing about Formula 1 news for the past five years and am currently employed as an author at athletistic.com, one of the top sports websites in the US.
