Three-time world champion Jack Brabham believes that Mark Webber blew his title hopes when he crashed out of last weekend's Korean Grand Prix.

Other than his three titles, the Australian veteran takes his own place in the sport's history book as the only man to win the drivers' championship in a car built by his own team.

"That would be fantastic, it would mean a lot to me and it would mean a lot to Australia," he told the Sydney Morning Herald, "but unfortunately I think his real opportunity has been blown last weekend.

"I'm really there behind him in the hope that he gets there," he continued, "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 so now he's back in the grid and that's going to make it very, very difficult.

"Mark's actually a very good driver but unfortunately he does make mistakes and the mistake at the weekend has probably cost him the championship. "It's a pity really because Vettel didn't finish and all Mark had to do was finish in front of Vettel one more time and he was home and dry."

In what might be seen as a swipe at his countryman, Brabham suggested that the Red Bull driver is approaching his (F1) sell-by date.

"People like Alonso are young and Mark's getting a bit too old really now," he said. "He can probably go one more year but every year that goes by now he's getting older and this is a young man's sport. He's racing against 21-year-olds or 22-year-olds and he's got the job in front of him. He's got to finish in front of Alonso and also Vettel and it's not going to be easy."

However, Brabham clearly feels sympathy and frustration for Webber, admitting that the Red Bull driver - who made his debut with Minardi in 2002 - has spent much of his F1 career in lesser cars.

"He's battled for years because he hasn't had the bloody car and this is the first year you could say he's competitive and he's been out there and he's almost as good as Vettel," said Brabham.