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Mark Webber has no doubts that his Red Bull team-mate Sebastian Vettel will beat Michael Schumacher's record of seven world championships.

Vettel won his fourth consecutive title this year as Webber has struggled on from within the same team but without a win to his name. The Australian, who has not always seen eye-to-eye with Vettel, believes his team-mate is capable of winning at least another three titles and that his success is not all down to the car he drives.

"Seb's phenomenal, a very tough act," he told the Mail on Sunday. "I think he will reach Michael Schumacher's total of seven championships, no problem."

"Seb has won a lot of races when the car has been good, but he has also won a lot when the car hasn't been good. Seb is like Alain Prost, but with a qualifying lap at his fingertips. Impressive. Also, he hardly ever makes a mistake. It's not all the car.

"It's been fascinating for me to be in the boxing ring with him. I will look back at that and, realise you have understood a lot about yourself from what went on. It was a big juicy part of Formula One. Of course I would have loved to have had a seven-year offset in age with Seb, instead of the 11-year difference between us. It would probably have exploded properly, then."

One of the most tense periods in his relationship with Vettel came at this year's Malaysian Grand Prix when Vettel took the lead from Webber despite being told by the Red Bull pit wall to hold position. Vettel later refused to apologise and Webber believes that is part of the reason he has been booed on the podium this season.

"You have to be able look at yourself in the mirror, mate," he added. "Obviously, you need to be ruthless at times. I know you can't be a little Teddy bear and roll over, but I am happy about the way I have gone about my career. That two or three weeks after Malaysia was tense for us both.

"I think after the race his initial reaction was correct, I think he was shattered at what he had done as he said in Malaysia. But his reaction two weeks later in China - when he said that he was not sorry at all - was probably not the best way to encourage people what to think of him."

Webber also explained that he has been struggling with the Pirelli tyres in recent years and that they had played to Vettel's advantage.

"For me, I have had to lift through the fast corners, it's a big string from your bow gone. Seb is very good in low speed corners, and he's probably the master on the Pirelli tyres. It's bad news for the others that Pirelli are staying."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.