Webber Finishes F1 Season With Broken Shoulder

Topics:  Mark Webber

VOA Breaking News (Voice of America)
December 6, 2010 at 10:40 pm

Australian Mark Webber of Red Bull has revealed in his new book that he drove the final four grand prix races of the Formula One season with a broken shoulder.

Webber had been in contention for the 2010 championship through the final race in Abu Dhabi on November 14. He ended up third for the season, 14 points behind teammate and winner Sebastian Vettel of Germany.

Despite needing pain-killing injections ahead of the Japanese and Korean grand prix races, the 34-year-old Webber decided to keep his injury secret from Red Bull management. In his book Up Front, A Season to Remember , Webber says he broke his right shoulder while riding a mountain bike when a friend fell in front of him.

He said he suffered what is called a “skier's fracture,” which is not serious but deep in the joint and difficult to treat. Only his trainer and doctor knew about the injury and his cortisone injections. At the time of the crash he had been 31 points ahead of Vettel.

Webber failed to finish the Korean race but he finished second in Japan and Brazil and has not blamed the injury for his failure to win the title.