Webber: Second the best possible result

The Australian held off the challenge of Jenson Button in the closing stages, but reckoned that he never had the pace to challenge team-mate Sebastian Vettel.

"Second place was as good as I was going to get today," said Webber. "From the start we had a pretty good launch. I had a look on the outside of Sebastian, but the main aim was to get inside and get a good exit.

"I got hit quite hard [by Rubens Barrichello] and I was worried I had a puncture, but team told me pressure was okay. Seb was just that bit quicker today."

Webber added that the decision to short-fuel at his first pitstop to stay ahead of Button set up their dramatic final-lap battle.

"We had a bit of a short fill so JB got to do some good laps on the overfill," said Webber. "I thought it would be quite tight in the end.

"It is pretty dusty off line. I got a bit hoppy on one of the last laps, I knew two big stops key to the lap he wasn't going to do much elsewhere. Jenson's overtaking has been good this year so I knew I had to be pretty good."

Webber, whose second place was his eighth podium of the season, is confident that Red Bull will start next season in contention for wins after finishing second in the Constructors' Championship.

"We have an incredible team back at factory," said Webber. "Next year there is absolutely no reason whatever for us not to be starting at the front. I would prefer to be in our position than other teams. We cannot get complacent as this is F1 but we are confident."