2009 could have been Webber's last in F1

Mark Webber has revealed he might have quit Formula One if last year's Red Bull car was a "shit box".

He told The Australian newspaper that, with a broken leg and an expiring contract early last year, he was beginning to experience waning motivation.

Ultimately, the RB5 powered Webber, 33, to his first two Grand Prix wins, two fastest laps and eight podiums, putting into history his less successful seven previous seasons.

Asked if 2009 would have been his last season had he not driven to the front of the F1 field, Webber answered: "I don't know. If we had a total shit box last year, maybe.

"It was a very tough start to the year for me mentally with the (mountain bike) accident and if that was coupled with a tough season result-wise, it might have been enough to put water on the flame, but fortunately, it was enough to put petrol on it," he added.

Webber joined Red Bull from Williams at the end of 2006, having previously also driven for Jaguar in the wake of his 2002 debut for Minardi.

"Two or three years ago, I wasn't particularly enjoying it a huge amount and I wasn't a million miles away (from retirement) then," he explained.

"You have to be enjoying it and you have to be motivated. That fire has to keep going.

"Last year was very, very important in terms of the outlook on my whole career," Webber said. "The fire is burning now, I am getting up each day and I care and I am taking responsibility for myself."