Mark Webber says Red Bull teammate Sebastian Vettel is in “a club on his own” after securing his third successive Formula One drivers’ championship.
The 25-year-old German clinched his place as the youngest triple world champion by placing sixth in a wild and rain-hit season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix.
Webber came fourth to finish the year sixth overall – his worst season ranking in four years – with race winner Jenson Button moving ahead of him into fifth spot.
The 36-year-old Australian was full of praise for Vettel.
“He’s in a club on his own now,” Webber said.
“It’s very, very special to do it three times in a row.
“Last year was a little more straightforward, but this year was a bit more difficult, as was 2010.
“Three in a row is going some, for sure. So I congratulate him, it’s a great effort.”
Webber almost made contact with Vettel at a rolling re-start following a mid-race Safety Car intervention, before diving onto the run-off.
“I was up nice and high and I was trying to get back into it, but I was on the white line and I had absolutely no grip,” said Webber, who had previously fallen down the order following a collision with Sauber’s Kamui Kobayashi.
Webber’s fourth placing in Brazil came after he failed to complete the previous two races, crashing out in Abu Dhabi then striking mechanical problems last week in the United States.
The Australian had race wins in Monaco in May and Britain in July, at which stage he climbed to second in the overall standings, 16 points clear of third-placed Vettel.
Red Bull announced two days later they had signed Webber for next year.
But he made the podium just twice more in the season’s last 11 races, although that was enough to help Red Bull to the team championship.
“The season has gone fast, there have been a lot of different winners, some ups and downs, a lot of crashes and a couple of nice wins for myself,” Webber said.
“I’m now looking forward to having a break to recharge and then it’s on to 2013.”
First, Webber will head to Tasmania for his annual charity fundraiser, the Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge.
The 350km five-day adventure race, which includes running, kayaking, trekking and mountain biking, starts in Launceston on Wednesday and finishes in Hobart on Sunday.
Fellow Australian Daniel Ricciardo, 23, finished the season in 18th spot, placing 13th in Brazil.
It was the West Australian’s first full season and he will drive again next year with Toro Rosso, Red Bull’s affiliate.
