Sao Paulo: Mark Webber was relieved at having won his first race of the year, but disappointed Sebastian Vettel's gearbox problems prevented an evenly-matched contest.

Vettel, who was passed by Webber on the 30th lap, was quick to deny that he had allowed his Red Bull team-mate to claim victory and with it a chance to secure second place in the driver's championship.

"We had no choice. More and more I was forced to slow down and at the end I was not using second gear," said Vettel, who finished second.

"Very early on I got the call that we had to manage the gearbox problem. It sounded pretty severe. It started to get worse. My main priority was to finish the race."

As it turned out Jensen Button's podium finish, after seeing off the challenge of Ferrari's Fernando Alonso with 10 laps to go, consigned Webber to third in the final standings.

Delighted

The Australian, however, was delighted to win his first race for 483 days, since Hungary 2010.

"I felt good all weekend. Seb did a great lap for pole, but today I had the rub of the green," Webber said.

"It would have been nice to have a race with Seb all the way through but he had a problem. It's a win you'll take for sure because I've had bad luck, or whatever you want to call it.

"It's an important win for me and the team to finish on a high.

"I enjoyed the last few laps. It's always nice when I could pit a bit later than people and cover people off. It was a nice way to finish."

Vettel said that his team-mate had produced a "fantastic race" and deserved his victory but refused to curse his own luck.

Although the German won here in 2010, and triumphed in 11 races this season, the final two races this year have been marred by technical problems.

He retired on the first lap in Abu Dhabi because of a puncture.

"It was a real shame for me as I had a good start and a very good feeling," he said.

"We had an amazing season and it would be over the top being upset now, so we take this second place.

"It has been a phenomenal year and a strong finish as well. We are all looking forward to the break and coming back as strong as this year."

At one point he told his team over his radio that he felt a bit like Ayrton Senna in 1991 — when the late, great Brazilian won his home race despite a deteriorating gearbox that left him stuck in sixth gear for the final couple of laps — but the German's problems were never quite that severe.

"I had to turn down the engine and short-shift," Vettel said.

"It was getting worse through the race and I ended up having to use higher gears."

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, whose drivers claimed 27 podium finishes during the season, said he believed Sunday's win would ensure that Webber returned stronger next year.

"Mark's had a tough year, but he's kept his head down," Horner said. "He wanted to finish the year on a high after facing a driver in the form of his life and he's done that," the Red Bull team principal said.

"I'm sure he'll come back stronger next year."