FUJI SPEEDWAY, Japan, Sept 30, 2007 (AFP) - Australian Red Bull Racing driver Mark Webber was furious after rookie Sebastien Vettel crashed into him forcing the pair to retire from Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix.

Both Webber and Vettel had driven brilliantly in the torrential rain in Fuji and were sitting second and third when, under safety car conditions, the young German ran into the back of Webber's car.

Webber picked up his only podium of the season in rainy conditions in Germany back in July and he had looked set to prosper in the wet once again until Vettel's mistake.

The Australian was scathing in his assessment of the incident that he felt cost him an opportunity to challenge Lewis Hamilton for victory.

"That was a completely disastrous finish. We were in very, very good shape to challenge Lewis for first," Webber said.

"We were strong and I didn't make any mistakes despite the tricky conditions, cars were aquaplaning and the visibility was very poor.

"Fernando (Alonso's) crash caused the second safety car stint, which bunched everyone back up again.

"That wasn't great, I would have liked to have continued to the end of the race. Vettel was a bit wild behind me during the first safety car period and then did a very good job of hitting me very hard under the second safety car.

"I think today he will have learnt a very valuable lesson."

For his part Vettel was suitably apologetic, admitting full responsibility for the shunt.

"I made a good start and the race was going well," said the Toro Rosso driver.

"Then, with the final safety car, I was behind Lewis and Mark and exiting turn 13, I looked to the right and saw Lewis going really slowly, I don't know why, but I thought he had a problem. Probably he was heating his brakes.

"Then, by the time I looked forward again, I was already in the back of Mark's car and I think he had also reacted to Lewis. I apologise now to Mark because I ruined both our races."

Despite Webber's misfortune it wasn't all bad news for Red Bull, with Scot David Coulthard recording a season's best fourth place.

Afterwards Coulthard had mixed feelings over the treacherous conditions.

"That was very, very difficult. It's a crazy thing to be a racing driver - on the one hand you're scared, but on the other, you're having the time of your life because every moment you're right on the edge, even on the straights."