QUEANBEYAN-BORN former Formula One legend Mark Webber was the feature of the ABC's Monday night Australian Story, putting his relationship with partner/manager Ann Neal and former teammate Sebastian Vettel in the spotlight.
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Webber said Neal was the "driving force behind" his illustrious 12-year Formula One career, which consisted of nine Grand Prix wins, including two prestigious Monaco events, and 45 podium finishes.
"When we left here, there were a lot of people who said they'll be back in six months. She believed I could do it and so did I," he said.
Neal met Webber while working for the Formula Ford Association and used her contacts in Europe to try to find a team that would sponsor Webber's junior racing career before breaking into Formula One in 2002.
The 38-year-old said Red Bull always put Vettel as a number one priority, Webber playing second fiddle.
"I've just won the previous two grands prix from start to finish and then a new rear wing arrives and goes over to the other side of the garage. And I know for a fact the mechanics were furious," Webber told the ABC's Australian Story.
"You just think there was a bit of an agenda going on.
"They were very keen to keep [Vettel] probably a little bit happier because again, I was an old dog, I was the guy who was supposed to be a little bit washed up."
Webber now races for Porsche in the World Endurance Championship after retiring from Formula One at the end of 2013.
