Webber has no plans to retire just yet

Mark Webber has rubbished rumours that this season will be his last in Formula One.

The 33-year-old is one of the oldest drivers on this year's grid, although by no means the eldest following the return of 41-year-old Michael Schumacher. However, unlike Schumacher, Webber has yet to win a World title.

But should he do so this season, rival Lewis Hamilton reckons the Aussie will call it quits.

"He has as good an opportunity as anyone to win the Championship this year. I'm not sure how long he plans to stay in Formula 1 but I get the sense it's one of the years he really wants to finish on top and perhaps call it a day," Autosport quoted Hamilton as having said.

"That's not from me. I don't know how old he is now but he's had a long Formula 1 career and everyone wants to end at a high.

"And he's probably got the best chance to ever finish on a high this year and I wouldn't be surprised if he's considering it - that he wants to win the championship this year and call it a day."

Webber, though, insists he has no intension of walking away just yet.

"I am very motivated, enjoying my job and looking forward to a great season, which is the way I have always approached every year," he said.

"I have no intention at all of retiring whatever season I have. It is Lewis' opinion and he is free to have that and I don't have a problem with that.

"I am very happy at the moment driving for who I am driving for. It is a very, very good situation at the moment and I am looking forward to it."

The Aussie heads into this weekend's Australian GP as one of the favourites to claim victory, a remarkable turnaround in form considering that this time last season he was still trying to recover fully from the broken leg he suffered in an off-season cycling accident.

"It is a different ball game to last year," he said. "I think mentally I did not have an off season last year as I had the big adventure race which takes its toll on you anyway and then I broke my leg.

"Mentally it is draining to have a winter like that so going into the first race I had a few unanswered questions as the most I had done had been 17 laps in testing in one hit and then I was going straight into a grand prix here.

"So now there are a lot less concerns for me, I already have a grand prix under my belt and while there are still a few little niggles here and there they are absolutely nothing compared to last year.

"I am in good shape, I feel good and I am ready to go for a whole season and obviously not just this weekend."

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