SYDNEY - Mark Webber is leaner, lighter and even more motivated as he sets out to improve on last season's Formula One title near-miss, says team owner Christian Horner.
And Horner says he's yet to see any reason why the 34-year-old Australian driver cannot continue his F1 career beyond 2011.
Webber is hell-bent on making amends after leading the championship for much of the latter stages of the 2010 season before fading to third as young Red Bull teammate Sebastian Vettel snared the glory.
Horner concedes that was difficult for Webber to deal with but all the more reason for him to perform well this year.
"It was tough for Mark to take," Horner told Reuters.
"But Mark's mentally a tough competitor and I think he will use that inwardly as motivation to come back even more determined, more focused and I think he's come back leaner, lighter and extremely motivated."
Webber is off-contract with the team at the end of the season with some believing he might retire unless he can secure a new deal with a leading team.
But Horner, who had to manage an at-times frosty relationship between Webber and Vettel in 2010, said his team would be happy to offer a new deal if he can maintain his level of performance.
"Mark isn't approaching this year that (as if) this is his final year," Horner said.
"I think we both agreed to keep the contract on a yearly basis at this stage in his career because it's important for us to see that he's got the speed, the motivation, the hunger and commitment.
"All of which look undiminished at the moment. If anything, (they are) burning brighter than ever.
"So we'll see how this season develops and obviously as we head towards the latter part of the summer then we'll start to talk about the following season.
"If he's delivering at the same level as he did in 2010 then why not?"
- AAP cw
