Webber eager to bounce back

"Now or never? Yes, it's an important year," the 30-year-old Australian driver told reporters at the Circuit de Catalunya on Friday after testing the new Renault-powered RB3 car for the first time.

"I believe I can have a strong year this year...but I am not the kind of guy that will drive around for 12th or 14th year after year," he added.

"I will not do that, so it is an important year. I want a step forward for myself."

Webber joined Red Bull from Williams at the end of last year, ending a disappointing two years with the former champions who have plunged from the elite to near anonymity.

It is not something he wants to dwell on, even if his third place at Monaco in 2005 remains the best result of his career.

"We've gone around, up and down and inside out with the whole Williams thing," he said. "It's done, I'm not there any more. Those few years were tough for everyone."

Before that, he had two years at Jaguar - bought by Red Bull in 2004 - after an impressive debut season with now-defunct tail-enders Minardi.

The Australian said he had been revitalised by his move and the prospect of racing a Renault-engined car created by championship-winning designer Adrian Newey, who moved from McLaren last year.

"I am refreshed, different at home apparently," he said. "I'm excited. The feeling in the team is good, its healthy. There's just a lot of general excitement and everyone's got a spring in their step.

"It's still bloody exciting. We are going up against big manufacturers and we want to get amongst those guys. It's not just tooling around and not being competitive. We want to be competitive this year."

Like British teammate David Coulthard, at 35 the oldest man on the starting grid, Webber said he felt fitter than ever.

"I'd say I've been quite motivated to get fit, which in the last few years was there but maybe not as intense as it has been in the last few months," he added. "It just shows my general excitement for the whole campaign."