Webber: My Stock has Gone Down

Webber joined the Grand Prix grid in 2002, following in new World Champion Fernando Alonso's footsteps by joining the Minardi team, and had high hopes after moving to Williams this year.

But a single podium finish is far less than he expected and he admitted to Autosport-Atlas: "My stock has gone down. It's not as good as it was when I left Jaguar. But that's what the game is.

"(Felipe) Massa's stock wasn't good when he was at Sauber but he's done well this year and now he's going to Ferrari. Next year, you win two races you're a legend but you're still the same guy, you've still got the same undies on.

"I've had a few ups and downs and few frustrating moments because I was disappointed where we were. It's been a long, long season for me personally and for the team as well.

"Whether we got the best out of Mark Webber this year, we don't know. But hopefully next year we can have a lot stronger year. You can only drive your hardest. We have still learned a lot and that's what happens."

But although Webber knows the golden glow that once was around him has now faded, he is also confident that he can soon put himself back in the limelight if the team can improve the pace of their car next year.

He knows opinions go up and down and he said: "It's normal paddock and media. This game is so bloody fickle. People say Michael, is he over? Is he this, is he that. What a load of shit.

"The car this year hasn't been that good for him, the tyres haven't been that good so Michael hasn't done much this year. I used to race Kimi sometimes in the Jaguar, quite often, when the McLaren was a slow shitbox.

"Now he's one lap down the road. I'm losing no sleep over that at all."