MUNICH: Mark Webber has praised his former Formula One team-mate Sebastian Vettel after the German’s decision to retire from the sport at the end of the season despite previous conflicts when the pair were at Red Bull together.

Webber, 45, told the F1 homepage that the four-time world champion had an “incredible career” and was “untouchable in the years”2010-2013 when Vettel won his titles – sometimes at the Australian’s expense.

“It was obviously pretty tense when you’re fighting for championships at the front together,” he said.

“It always gets a bit strained – it’s easier to be team-mates when you’re fighting for points but obviously, championships and wins is a bit more challenging, which is obviously well-advertised in lots of different scenarios throughout the sport. We weren’t alone in that sense.”

The duo famously crashed into each other in Turkey in 2010 and three years later Vettel ignored team orders to rob Webber of victory in Malaysia.

Saying they were “fine” now, Webber said the 35-year-old Vettel had a lot to look forward to post-racing, having expressed great concern about climate change.

“Now, obviously he’s changed his whole position, hasn’t he?,” he said. “As his career’s gone on, especially in the last year or so, his whole position has changed in terms of what he’s motivated by and looking forward to in the next phase of his life, and fair play.” — dpa