Australian former triple Formula One (F1) world champion Sir Jack Brabham on Friday said F1 driver Mark Webber has "blown" his chance of winning this year's world championship, and will never get another opportunity.
The 34-year-old Red Bull driver, Webber, crashed his car during the early laps in last weekend's Korean Grand Prix. Ferrari's Fernando Alonso won for the third time in four races to move past Red Bull pair Webber and Sebastien Vettel.
The accident has cost Webber his top spot in the title race, with two events remaining in Brazil and Abu Dhabi of the United Arab Emirates.
Brabham, who won world crowns in 1959-60 and 1966, is a major supporter of Webber, and is anxious for him to win the world championship.
"That (Webber to win the championship) would be fantastic, it would mean a lot to me and it would mean a lot to Australia, but unfortunately I think his real opportunity has been blown last weekend," Brabham told Australia Associated Press on Friday.
"I'm really there behind him in the hope that he gets there but if he doesn't do it this year I don't think he ever will, personally.
"He was there with a (14) points lead (before the crash), so now he's back in the grid and that's going to make it very, very difficult."
Brabham said Webber is a very good driver, but unfortunately he does make mistakes, and the mistake at the weekend has probably cost him the championship.
Brabham said the 34-year-old Webber will soon be uncompetitive against the likes of younger stars such as his Red Bull teammate Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso of Ferrari.
The last race of the F1 season will be held in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 14.