Former F1 star Mark Webber says his tough start to life in England helps him manage Formula E prodigy Mitch Evans
Former Aussie racer relives his memories of moving to England and into the unknown as he pursued his dream of becoming a Formula One driver
MARK WEBBER says his own difficult experience of moving to England from Australia has helped him mentor Formula E prodigy Mitch Evans.
The former F1 star, 41, allowed the New Zealand driver to live with him in Buckinghamshire during his racing days as Evans tried to kick-start his career.
Webber had lived Evans’ dream and knew exactly how it hard it was - having made the 11,600 mile trip to the UK to become a pro racing driver.
As an Aussie, the former Red Bull driver has endured the difficult moments away from his family and friends while also acclimatising to the dismal British weather.
Speaking on those challenges, Webber told SunSport: “It was not an option to go home and put my tail between my legs, I didn’t give myself that chance.
“I said 'I wanted to stay here and make it stick', for every person who said it wasn’t going to work, that was just petrol on the fire for me.”
Having lived through the challenges himself, Webber used that experiences to help guide a 15-year-old Evans through his early years in England.
Webber added: “Coming from our part of the world is not particularly straightforward.
“Because not in just motorsport, in any sport you have to start early.
“And it’s tough when you’re away from your family and people you are familiar with - Mitch was just 15.
“Meanwhile if you’re Italian, Spanish, French and English it’s easier, forget it, it’s just easier.
“I helped him with that, because I was well plugged in at that point and I could help smooth things over and especially with accommodation and just small things, helping him settle.
“The weather is s*** and things are just hard. But he has always been mature beyond his years, a very cool cat.”
Some people may think, living with and shadowing an F1 driver at the peak of their powers is a glamorous affair, but Webber reveals that is far from the case.
The 41-year-old said: “It would have been extremely boring for him, because obviously when I was professional I was boring.
“I was super focused, you have to be. I was extremely conservative and I knew I wanted to maximise my career for as long as possible.
“I was obviously busy with my training and I intentionally stayed somewhere pretty quiet and just got my head down and did my work, year after year. And I felt that I reaped the benefits of that decision.
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“And he picked the bones of what he wanted to, but he was always going to be his own person, you have got to go your own way and do things yourself and that can be your hardest moments where you learn the most from, and he’s had some of those already.”
Webber was present for the Kiwi driver’s last race in Zurich, as Evans achieved his and Jaguar’s maiden pole position in Formula E.
Evans is currently seventh in the standings ahead of the final weekend of the Formula E season, which ends with a double-header in New York.
