Well, they say great minds think alike, and I was only just thinking about writing a piece on Red Bull driver Mark Webber … and then he goes and bags an awards double.

The Australian has been given the Innes Ireland award for the driver best displaying the qualities of courage and sportsmanship epitomised by the late Innes Ireland.

And he also was awarded the  Bruce McLaren Trophy – awarded to the Commonwealth driver who has established the most meritorious performances in international motorsport.

The accolades were handed out at the the annual British Racing Drivers Club Annual Awards in London last night.

Mark received his trophies from legendary F1 commentator Murray Walker and Bruce McLaren’s widow, Pat.

Other winners included:

• Lewis Hamilton, who won the John Cobb trophy, given to “a British Driver, driving a British car, who has achieved success or successes of outstanding character.”;
• Ross Brawn, who was handed the Colin Chapman trophy for “an individual who has shown great team spirit”;
• Sebastian Vettel, who scooped the Johnny Wakefield trophy for his fastest lap at Silverstone at  this year’s race ;
• British F3 champion Daniel Ricciardo, who won the John Cooper trophy for “a competitor within the British F3 Championship who has shown potential to become a future world champion”.

I had been thinking how impressive Webber had been during the 2009 season after breaking his leg in a biking accident during a charity race in Tasmania and struggling through the start of the season.

There were some marked performances from the 33-year-old; his two wins in Germany and Brazil, alongside his four second and two third places.

He was a lot closer to Vettel at times than I thought he would be,  and it could have been closer in the championship with a little bit of better luck.

And who can forget the last few laps at Yas Marina, where he fought off the charge of Jenson Button to hold on to second place – he definitely finished the season on a high.

It will be watching Webber a lot closer next year to see if he can match his super-quick team-mate Vettel.