Briatore: Webber's stocks are up

"Webber was more surprising than anybody, he did an incredible job," said the Italian, who manages Webber and is looking for a replacement for Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso next year.

"Today, the shares in Mark go up. It's like the stock market. It was down and now it is up again," he told Reuters.

"Frank (Williams) has the option but I'm pretty much sure that Webber is a good driver. If he has the right car. Today he was very good."

Webber is coming to the end of his second year at Cosworth-powered Williams, who have yet to exercise their option to keep him.

The Australian was on course to repeat his third place in Monaco last year after lining up on the front row of the starting grid and racing at the same pace as Alonso and McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen.

His race ended after 48 laps with an exhaust failure when hot gases burnt through wiring looms.

With Raikkonen retiring shortly after, Webber would have been on course for second place had his car proved more reliable.

"Obviously bitterly disappointed," said Webber, who feared it could be a while before he had another chance to shine in such a fashion.

"It's a one-off, this track is unique," he said. "In Barcelona we finished a lap behind and in this race we were strong.

"We've got to fill in the holes on the golf course that we're weak at and there are still plenty of them out there...we've got to get to the flag, that's the biggest thing that we've got to work on.

"There is no rewind button and all the hard work we did over the last few days is invisible now."