Mark Webber plays down retirement speculation

Red Bull's Mark Webber has denied he has any desire to quit Formula One after former world champion Lewis Hamilton suggested the Australian veteran might be interested in bowing out on a high at the end of the season.

McLaren driver Hamilton was quoted by Australian media reports on Wednesday as saying: "I don't know how long he plans to stay in Formula One but I get the sense that it's one of those years he wants to finish on top and perhaps call it a day."

"He has the best chance to end on that high this year and I wouldn't be surprised if he is considering it."

The 33-year-old Webber, who is bidding to become Australia's first winner of its home Grand Prix on Sunday, said he was "very motivated, enjoying my job and looking forward to a great season".

"I have no intention at all of retiring give or take whatever season I have. So it's Lewis's opinion and he's free to have that, so I don't have a big problem with what he said," he told reporters at Albert Park on Thursday.

"I'm very happy at the moment, enjoying driving for the guys that I am driving for, so it's a very, very good situation for me at the moment."

After stints with Minardi, Jaguar and Williams, Webber joined Red Bull in 2007 and broke through for his most successful season last year, picking up two victories among his eight podium finishes to end the year fourth in the drivers' standings.