Mark Webber’s Unexpected Love for Home: It’s All About the Space
Former Australian Formula One star Mark Webber is back on home soil, and while he may not be behind the wheel at the 2026 Melbourne Grand Prix, his connection to motorsport remains as strong as ever. As a Porsche brand ambassador and a mentor to rising McLaren talent Oscar Piastri, Webber continues to be a prominent figure in the global racing scene, frequently jetting around the world. However, when asked about what he cherishes most about returning to Australia, his answer might just surprise you. It’s not the world-renowned food, the enviable weather, or the friendly faces that top his list.
Instead, Webber revealed in an exclusive interview that the most significant draw of coming Down Under is the sheer abundance of space.
“The space, wide-open spaces, the coastline,” Webber shared, painting a vivid picture of what he misses. He recounted a recent drive that encapsulates this sentiment perfectly: “I drove from Bathurst in the [Porsche] Cayenne to Noosa, 1000km, in one day. Took the Cayenne through Mudgee, through Tenterfield, on to the Queensland border, through all that Scenic Rim stuff.”
For Webber, these sprawling landscapes are an integral part of what makes Australia special. “That, for Australia [is what I miss most],” he stated. He even expressed a fondness for the simpler things that signify a healthy natural environment: “I love bugs on the screen. We need more bugs on the screen; birds need food.” He continued to elaborate on the visual and environmental richness of Australia: “Sunrise, sunsets, you obviously got to watch for the ‘roos and stuff, but space; big skies, big oceans, you don’t get that in Europe.”
This deep appreciation for the great outdoors is likely rooted in his upbringing. Having grown up on a farm, Webber was immersed in wide-open spaces from a young age, a stark contrast to the more densely populated environments often found in European racing circuits. His journey through go-karting and various racing leagues eventually led him to his Formula One debut in 2002, piloting the Minardi PS02.
After a distinguished Formula One career, Webber retired from the pinnacle of motorsport in 2013. However, his passion for racing didn’t wane, as he continued to compete in endurance racing with Porsche until his final motor racing retirement in 2017.
A Surprising Take on Australian Coffee Culture
While many travellers and locals alike praise Australian coffee as some of the finest in the world, Webber offered a refreshingly candid, and perhaps unexpected, perspective when asked about his thoughts on the local brews. He admitted that some of his most memorable coffee experiences haven’t necessarily been in Australia.
“Some of my best coffees have been roadside in Italy – the atmosphere in there with the truckies having an espresso – it’s just hustle,” Webber explained. He contrasted this with a common observation about Australian coffee culture. “One frustration in Australia is you can see a long queue of people [because] you can see how pedantic we are with our orders now – my god, I just want a coffee.”
Despite this mild critique, Webber also managed to find a humorous silver lining in the meticulous nature of Australian coffee orders. “You know we’ve got no issues in Australia when we can spend that long in a queue ordering – we’ve got it pretty good; it’s a beautiful problem to have if our orders are like that.” This sentiment suggests that the long queues are a sign of a society that enjoys a certain level of comfort and perhaps even a touch of indulgence.
For the record, when Mark Webber does decide to brave the queue for a coffee in Australia, his order is a simple yet specific one: a double-shot latte made with full-fat milk. It seems that even for a world-renowned racing driver, some things are best kept straightforward, even if the ordering process sometimes isn’t.
