Despite the crushing blow of missing out on the Formula One World title to team-mate Sebastian Vettel last year, Webber is ready to start the new campaign hungrier and more committed than Horner can recall.Quashing speculation this season will be 34-year-old Webber's last hurrah in F1, Horner said: "Mark isn't approaching this year like this is his final year.
"We both agreed to keep his contract on a yearly basis at this stage in his career because it's important for us to see he's got the speed, motivation, hunger and commitment.
"All of those things look undiminished at the moment, if anything, burning brighter than ever.
"So we'll see how this season develops and obviously as we head towards the latter part of the summer then we'll start to talk about the following season."
Asked if he felt Webber would be with Red Bull in 2012, Horner replied: "If he's delivering at the same level as he did in 2010, why not?"
Vettel's championship victory could easily have had a demoralising effect, yet knowing the Australian as he does, Horner has not been surprised by Webber's mental fortitude.
"It was tough for Mark to take, seeing not only the championship slip from his grasp, but also seeing his team mate win it at the last knockings," said Horner.
"Obviously then the interest and hype that naturally follows the world champion, and obviously in Sebastian's case being such a young guy, is a very hard thing to deal with.
"But Mark is a mentally tough competitor and I think he will use that inwardly as motivation to come back even more determined, more focused.
"I think he's come back leaner, lighter and extremely motivated. That's why it's such an exciting pairing to have in our cars."
Source: Planet-F1
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