Webber Sorry Not to Race Against Button

Williams-bound Mark Webber made light of his future team's failure to secure Jenson Button on Thursday but regretted losing the chance to be measured against the Briton in equal machinery.

"My life has been destroyed, I don't know how to cope, I've lost so much sleep," Webber joked when asked at the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix whether he was disappointed that Button was staying at BAR. "Ah well, it's water under the bridge isn't it?" he added.

The Australian has eclipsed partners at Minardi and Jaguar and hoped a link with Button would silence the critics who say he has never had a strong team mate to contend with.

Formula One's Contracts Recognition Board ruled on Wednesday that BAR, in a tug-of-war with Williams for Button's services, had the valid contract for 2005. Button had wanted to join Williams but accepted he could not.

"It's frustrating that Jenson couldn't come to the team...but it was just a mess from start to finish, wasn't it? The girlfriend that never happened," said Webber. "It just would have been good to have 'the legend' in the other car. Hopefully we can find someone that's of his calibre."

Briton David Coulthard, leaving McLaren after nine years and 150 races at that team, is one of those trying to win the drive along with Antonio Pizzonia, the Williams test driver who was Webber's team mate at Jaguar last year.

The Australian said he did not believe Pizzonia was a certainty for the drive and was enthusiastic about Coulthard.

"Why not?" Webber said. "He's worked at McLaren, which is a phenomenal team as well. I'm not saying DC's the man, I'm just saying he's good, he's out there."