Mark Webber's bold call on new Formula One pecking order

Mark Webber has delivered his verdict on this year’s Formula 1 season, tipping his former team Red Bull to once again be bringing the fight to Mercedes.

The Aussie F1 hero has been in Bahrain for Saturday’s season-opening Grand Prix, before a rare dash home to speak at ADMA’s Global Forum in Sydney on March 29.

'WHAT THE F***': Max Verstappen rages over 'brutal' F1 drama

'WHAT ON EARTH': F1 world in disbelief over Daniel Ricciardo drama

“Motorsports is seen as a sport that pushes a stack of hurdles down,” Webber says. “It’s pioneering and industry-breaking on the tech side, but also in terms of how it learns from other sports.”

It’s going to be a mammoth season in 2022, with all cars newly designed in accordance with fresh regulations from the FIA.

And while it may be more competitive than ever, Webber predicts that powerhouses Red Bull and Mercedes will fight out for this year’s title.

“If those teams are not winning, they’re going to be very disappointed in themselves. It’s going to be very interesting to see who has what advantage after a few races,” Webber says.

Webber believes this season will see entirely new audiences flocking to the sport, thanks to the rising popularity of Netflix’s Formula 1: Drive To Survive documentary.

Human connection and investment in individual drivers, Webber says, is fundamental to how these fans follow the sport.

“Whether you love Lando Norris, Daniel Ricciardo, Charles LeClerc, or Max and Lewis, everyone has a favourite. Netflix has really opened up the access for everyone to gain a better understanding of the people and the sport.

“Viewers can turbocharge their expertise as well as enjoy the drama that surrounds it,” he says.

Tech developments a boon for F1 fans: Webber

New developments in sports tech are also on the cards this year, as fans increasingly consume more sport outside of traditional broadcast media.

Webber says that there’s now more freedom in how fans can watch races, with some choosing to follow certain drivers or races their own way.

“It’s about giving people more choice at home to actually pursue what they want to follow. There’s opportunities with cameras getting smaller and smaller, as well as mounting them in different locations.

“We in Formula 1 are very competitive with how we use tech, and how we can make sure the viewer at home is getting the best experience from our sport. We’ve got incredibly high standards,” he says.

The boom in motorsports interest also ties in with the bounceback from COVID-19, as borders open and international travel kicks off again.

But as Webber says, the appetite for in-person spectating is high, with projected attendances looking strong.

“I really still believe that attending something personally is very unique. Every single Grand Prix for this year ahead has had record numbers of people wanting to go.

“Watching through a screen is one thing, but being physically there is hard to beat.”

By Richie Kenzie

If you want to hear more from Mark, grab your seat at ADMA’s Global Forum in Sydney on March 29.

Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.