Webber looks for Brazil boost in 2012

Mark Webber believes his win in the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix will be a "good tonic" for him to return stronger in the 2012 Formula One world championship.

The 35-year-old Australian was overshadowed by Red Bull teammate and double world champion Sebastian Vettel this year, with the German enjoying 11 wins and 15 poles on his way to a second title.

Webber's victory meant he finished third in the 2011 championship behind Jenson Button.

"I think I will have a stronger season than this year," Webber said.

"I started off poorly for different reasons, but we will look at all areas to get to the highest level. When the bar is at the highest level, I don't just look at Seb.

"There is Jenson (Button), Fernando (Alonso) - these guys are on the top pace. It is a good tonic for me, this race. It's good to sign off like this."

Webber took the lead after 30 laps when Vettel was hit by gearbox problems.

After Webber passed him, though, Vettel again increased his pace and had no problem staying behind his teammate.

He even set fastest laps a couple of times. Webber eventually finished with the race's best lap.

Vettel dismissed suggestions that team orders might have come into play to try to help Webber finish second in the points standings.

"We had no choice," Vettel said.

"More and more, I was forced to slow down and, at the end, I was not using second gear."

Fernando Alonso of Ferrari was fourth and crowd favourite Felipe Massa, in his 100th race for Ferrari, was fifth.

Adrian Sutil of Force India finished sixth and Nico Rosberg of Mercedes was seventh.

Lewis Hamilton, the winner in Abu Dhabi two weeks ago, also had a gearbox problem in his McLaren and eventually retired on lap 48.

Seven-time champion Michael Schumacher of Mercedes had a punctured left-rear tyre while trying to pass Bruno Senna of Renault at the end of the main straight.

Schumacher had already passed Senna when the Brazilian's car touched his tyre and forced him to make an unscheduled pitstop that led to a 15th-place finish.

Senna also had to make a stop because of damage to his car and eventually received a drive-through penalty for the incident and finished 17th.

Veteran Brazilian driver Rubens Barrichello, who is yet to secure a drive for next year and could have driven his last F1 race after an 18-year career, made a slow start from 12th position and finished only 14th.