For every driver who manages to grab a world championship, there must be several who never get a decent shot at it. Many of them could claim to be capable of the feat, if only they could get their hands on a good car. But fortune dictates that some will never have that chance and the years roll by with potential never fulfilled, once-bright hopes slowly fading and the history books reflecting only a long list of finishes and DNFs with only a handful of points per season.
Mark Webber
Giancarlo Fisichella was once as obvious a talent as is Sebastian Vettel today, a driver who made the most of his chances in his early years with uncompetitive teams. The trouble was that the years passed and he was overlooked by the top teams, his occasionally heroic performances in lesser machinery not enough to guarantee him a seat in a McLaren or Ferrari. By the time he found himself at Renault, time had moved on and now the young Fernando Alonso was to prove the master of the tired Fisi. Next year will probably be Fisichella's last in F1 as he provides the experience needed by the Force India team.
There was one who burst upon the scene even more dramatically than Fisi, however. I remember well that Australian GP in 2002 when a Minardi finished in the points for the first time in ages. The driver that achieved the feat was an Australian, fittingly enough, and most of us had never heard of him: Mark Webber.
The big problem with such a debut in an uncompetitive car is that it is hard to live up to the expectations it encourages and Mark's year became a familiar Minardi story of retirements and finishes just outside the points. In the years that followed he went to Jaguar and Williams at a time when both teams were on the slide. He became marked as a driver who could qualify well but whose race performances were somewhat suspect, thanks to a tendency for big name drivers to collide with him.
At Red Bull Racing, Mark seems to have found his spiritual home, however, his customary good qualifying increasingly being followed by finishes in the points. His team mate, David Coulthard, has had an awful 2008 in contrast, adding a reputation for avoidable accidents to his lackluster qualifying. It has been up to Webber to limit the team's blushes as their sister outfit, STR, have gone from strength to strength.
Next season will be the first time that Mark has begun a third year with a team and his prospects ought to look bright. Designer Adrian Newey is now well into his stride at Red Bull and should produce a good car for 2009, the Renault engines seem to have taken on a new lease of life after Briatore's complaints earlier this season and Mark has fitted in well with the team.
One wonders whether it is all a little late for the Australian, however. Just as Fisichella's big break was spoiled by being teamed with the rising star of the moment, so Mark's future holds the prospect of having the wonder boy, Vettel, as team mate. Is history about to repeat itself?
The battle for supremacy at Red Bull will be one of the most fascinating in F1. With most of the other teams settling for their present line-up, we know what to expect - but at RBR there is a mighty contest brewing. Old guard against the new, experience against talent, the story has been repeated again and again in F1.
Many are expecting that Vettel will emerge as the bright new star of the sport but this allows too little for the hardened warrior that Webber has become, I think. He remains one of the best qualifiers in the game and Vettel will struggle to beat him on that score. In the race, Mark's legendary bad luck is bound to play its part but, when given a chance, he will give the youngster a run for his money.
What it means is that 2009 will be the make-or-break year for both of them. If Mark is beaten, he has little to look forward to but years of being employed for his car set up skills alone, the wise old head that keeps the team on an even keel. And I cannot see Mark adapting well to that; his pride will see him retired before that happens.
If Vettel loses out in the struggle, however, he will be amazed at how fast the media lose interest. He may be the darling of the talent spotters now but, give him a season in the shadow of a known quantity like Webber, and he will fade from the fickle memory of the public.
I hesitate to make any predictions of the winner in this particular battle of team mates. There are good points to make for both drivers and it might just be luck that sorts it out in the end. But, in a season that will be full of interest as we watch the effect of the new rules, Red Bull will be a show worth watching on its own.