Webber competed in the final four races of last year's Championship with a fractured shoulder, which he sustained in a cycling accident. However, the Aussie didn't tell his Red Bull team about the injury.In fact, Red Bull knew nothing about it until Webber revealed all in a book released in December. Naturally, the team was not very happy about that.
Briatore, though, reckons Webber should have kept it a secret.
"It would have been better had he not revealed that," the former Renault team boss told the Gazzetta dello Sport. "Otherwise he should have said that immediately."
The Italian added that in his opinion the injury did not cost Webber the 2010 Drivers' Championship title.
"He didn't lose the title because of that, but because of the mistake in Korea. Otherwise he would have won it."
As for this year's Championship battle, Briatore believes it's too early to say whether Ferrari and Fernando Alonso, who had a strong finish to last year's title race, are the favourites.
However, he does expect the Spaniard to be involved in a four-way battle with reigning World Champ Sebastian Vettel, Webber and Lewis Hamilton.
"It's early to say," he said when asked if Ferrari were the favourites for 2011.
"I expect Red Bull to still be strong and McLaren to be competitive once again. I see a four-way battle: Vettel, Webber, Alonso and Hamilton.
"Fernando is motivated, and Ferrari wants to give him a winning car from the start, without the need of chasing the others. That's what he wants and deserves."
He added: "Alonso has the resources to win the title in 2011."
Source: Planet-F1
