In years to come the 2013 Formula One season will likely be rightly remembered for little more than a campaign in which the title race proved to be the deadest of ducks.

However in the here and now with Sebastian Vettel confirmed as the world champion once again, most neutrals will now be turning their attention to his more popular, if less successful, team-mate.

Having announced his retirement earlier in the campaign the remainder of Mark Webber’s F1 career now spans just three grands prix, starting with Sunday’s race in Abu Dhabi — and you could probably count the number of people who would begrudge him a win on one hand.

The 37-year-old Australian has never quite managed to hit the same heights as his estranged German team-mate despite apparently having the same car though with a bit more luck he might have pipped Vettel to the 2010 championship.

Having entered Formula One as a Benetton test driver nine years earlier, Webber’s 2010 title tilt was arguably the apex of his career and produced some memorable moments including his utterance of the now immortal line: “Not bad for a number two driver,” after winning at Silverstone.

Vettel rallied in the final race at Yas Marina to win the world crown and, while Webber tried again and repeated a third-place standings finish in 2011, he had missed the chance to become one of the most popular world champions in recent F1 history.

This term Webber, who announced in June that he will race sportscars for Porsche in next year’s World Endurance Championship, sits a modest fifth in the drivers’ standings.

He has failed to win a grand prix yet, though in fairness he was screwed out of victory in Malaysia when Vettel selfishly defied team orders to overtake his team-mate for the win.

Many believe that particular incident may have had more than a passing influence on Webber’s decision to retire.

As a result the Australian heads into Sunday’s race as the neutral’s favourite in his bid to add to a career tally of nine grands prix triumphs.

Though Vettel’s legacy is sure to be of far greater import than Webber’s, the four-time world champion will never command the popularity of his “number two,” who will hopefully end his own career in fine style.