Mark Webber’s time at Red Bull will be remembered as the team’s most competitive streak in F1. While the team won 4 straight championships between 2010 and 2013 with Sebastian Vettel claiming all 4 driver’s titles, there was a lot of tension behind the curtains.
Webber and Vettel had a fierce inter battle amongst them. But the Aussie was never able to manoeuvre himself as the top dog ahead of his young teammate.
Webber has many incidents during his time at Red Bull to remember or forget like the ‘Multi 21’ incident or losing the 2010 and 2012 championships. But one that he’d definitely wish never happened in F1 again occurred during the 2013 German GP.
What happened in the 2013 German GP?
Some of the most dangerous incidents in F1 have taken place due to loose parts and debris. Like Felipe Massa’s Hungaroring accident in 2009 or Mark Webber’s incident during the 2013 German GP.
The 2013 German GP took place in the Nurburgring circuit. Lewis Hamilton had qualified on the pole with Sebastian Vettel and Webber qualifying P2 and P3.
The trio were off to a great start and Webber soon took the lead by lap 7. At Lap 8 he was called for a routine pitstop. But the Red Bull mechanics had some trouble fitting his rear-right wheel properly.
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The same wheel rolls away as Webber accelerates. The Lotus Mechanics can be seen running away from the wheel. But the rogue wheel hits an F1 cameraman Paul Allen who was facing the opposite side.
The video shows mechanics and FIA personnel rushing to the scene to help Allen who was unconscious. He was transferred immediately to the Nurburgring circuit’s medical centre.
Webber was rolled back to his garage and was to allowed rejoin the race near the back of the field. But Red Bull was fined $31,000 for their negligence in letting Webber’s car leave the pits without the wheel properly attached.
Also Read: F1 cameraman runs away to avoid getting hit by Guanyu Zhou’s crash at British GP
What happened to the cameraman hit by Mark Webber’s wheel?
The cameraman Paul Allen was rushed to the hospital. He suffered two broken ribs, a broken collarbone, a concussion and bruises after Mark Webber’s loose wheel slammed him.
The FIA released a statement saying Allen was treated at the circuit medical centre and then transported by helicopter to Koblenz Hospital.
Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner commented on the incident saying, “The most important thing today is that he does not appear to have suffered any life-threatening injuries.”
Horner added, “It’s a timely reminder that working in the pit lane is dangerous. Everyone reacted incredibly quickly and the most important thing is to hear that he seems to be fundamentally OK.”
The incident provoked a ruling change that now allows F1’s pitlane camera personnel to be only stationed within team garages.
Also Read: Mark Webber recalls when Sebastian Vettel threatened to sue Red Bull after Multi-21 controversy
