Mark Webber is adamant he won't play second fiddle to Sebastian Vettel next season despite the German being a triple World Champion.
Vettel clinched his third successive Drivers' Championship in the season finale in Brazil, beating Ferrari's Fernando Alonso by three points.
Webber, Vettel's team-mate at Red Bull, finished down in sixth place with 102 points less than the 25-year-old.
The duo will team up again next season with Webber insisting he won't play a supporting role for the reigning Champion.
"Obviously with Sebastian's form, he's clearly on the front foot," the 36-year-old told Reuters, "not only from within our team but he's won three World titles on the bounce now so all the drivers have got to try and topple him.
"I don't go there thinking I've got to be playing a team role as such. I'm there for myself, to get the best results possible and to do that I need to be part of the team.
"So, no, I'm not going there thinking in a supporting role at all."
Asked about where his own Championship quest went wrong, the Aussie said: "Ultimately we just weren't consistent enough compared to 2010 and 2011.
"Our qualifying pace this year was a very, very good step forward but (not) our Sunday performances.
"It wasn't strong enough towards the end but they're fine margins and before you know it, the odd non-finish here and there, and the points are not in your favour."
