Webber hopes RBR can take the next step

"Hopefully a bit further down the road than we are now," Webber told reporters in Canada when asked where he is hoping to be next year.

"We have 15 points and it's a big step from this time last year to where we are now. Crystal-balling in this game is very difficult.

"I hope I'll be happy with the car and the work the guys are doing, and then we can push into BMW terrain, if you like. That's where we have to go.

"We hope we can upset the big guys. We're not too far away from doing that now, to get into that next group."

Red Bull have taken a leap forward in performance this season after a disappointing 2007 filled with reliability issues.

Webber has scored 15 points in the first six races of the season, five more than in all of 2007.

The Australian admitted he has been very happy with his consistency so far.

"Podiums would be nice on the day, but overall, looking at the championship, I'm equal sixth," he said. "If I had six non-finishes but scored a podium, it's only nice on the day. I prefer consistency. I think that's important in any sport, the ability to deliver.

"I can't say, 'I don't like this track or that track,' it's my job to deliver everywhere. But no one is handing podiums out; we know there's six cars out there faster than us. We were close in Monaco, and I'm sure there'll be another where we might get a podium.

"It won't be because we're there on pace. We won't qualify on the second row and finish third because of our speed, that won't happen."

Webber, however, reckons the regulation changes to be introduced next season could change the pecking order or slow down his own team's progress.

"Unfortunately when you have big regulation changes it becomes more demanding," he said. "We're a big team, we're very well funded, but when you're up against Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari, guys like this, and you have KERS and totally new regulations coming, it's very demanding.

"We have the brainpower, the people to make the right calls on that, but it's a huge challenge. I'd like the regulations to stay as they are, because we're going well. Maybe we'll do a better job with the new regs, who knows?"