Brazilian Grand Prix: Webber: It's noisy without a helmet

Mark Webber bade an emotional farewell to F1, taking his helmet off as he waved to the crowd on the slow-down lap of the Brazilian Grand Prix.
24.11.2013 - Race, 2nd position Mark Webber (AUS) Red Bull Racing RB9
24.11.2013 - Race, 2nd position Mark Webber (AUS) Red Bull Racing RB9
© PHOTO 4

Mark Webber says that taking his helmet off on the slow-down lap of the Brazili꧂an Grand Prix was his attempt to bring 'a diff𒐪erent touch' to his farewell to F1.

The Australian, who now leaves the top flight for a return to sportscars with Porsche in 2014, told reporters that he wanted to give the fans a chance to see his face as he waved goodb🍨ꦅye to a twelve-year career in grand prix racing, but had forgotten just how much commotion would be going on behind him as he toured back to the pits.

"The cars are bloody noisy with no helmet on," he admitted, "I know that much, but it was really noisy, all the vibrations - you can hear lots of things that you don't want to b♉e hearing with the helmet on, that's for sure!"

Webber revealed that it had taken longer than expected to prepare for his party trick, but was determi♓ned to do it.

"It's not easy to get the HANS device system away from the helmet, so I spent half a lap trying to ge꧂t the left hand side off," he explained, "It was good to get [the helmet] off, obviously, [for] the marshals, the fans, to se💟e... In this sport, it's not always easy to show the person that's behind the wheel. We can in lots of other sports but, in F1, we've always got the helmet on, so it was nice to drive back with the helmet off.

"The only time you're 🧜seen with the helmet off is on the podium - if we have a good day - so it was nice to get it off. In the last sector, I got it a little bit jammed, so I think the marshals were a little bit worried that I couldn't turn left but, in the end, it was fine. It was a nice moment to come🅠 back [like that], a little bit of a different touch to bringing the car back."

Webber appeared a little teary-eyed as he bade farewཧell to the passionate Brazilian crowd on that lap, but insists that he wasn't emotional...

"It was the wind," he claimed.

With his Porsche programme not due to start immediately, the Austral𝓰ian admits that he is loo🌱king forward to a little time away from racing.

"I'm going to have a few week𒐪s out, for sure, doing nothing," he confirmed, "I love putting the fire onꦛ at home, chopping some wood, maybe a bit of red wine and chill out with some chocolate.

"For sure, there is some Porsche stuff in the background and, obviously, there is a chance I can do some stuff with them before the year is out, which Red Bull have been veryꦇ good with. Then it will be a steady loading into January as it will be for all of us."

The veteran's only regret is not being able to⛎ get back 'down under' for his annual adventure race.

"My Tasmania 🔥Challenge starts on Wednesday, but I just can't get to Tasmania from here," he conceded, "🎀It's just too busy to get to my own charity event, so I hope that it goes well for everyone taking part. It just been a relentless year - and quite difficult - so I'm looking forward to having a bit of a break."

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