Jones, now 63, won the F1 world championship in a Williams in 1980, a year in which he recorded five victories, including his home GP in Melbourne where he lapped the rest of the field.

After this triumph, Jones never attained such heights again and left F1 for good in 1986, and only Brabham brothers Gary and David dipped a toe in the F1 waters under the Aussie flag, in the 1980s and early '90s, until the arrival of Webber at Minardi in 2002, where he scored points in his very first race, on home soil at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

Eight years on, and Webber is basking in the glow of his first two grand prix victories in the groundbreaking Red Bull RB5 car that pushed the title-winning Brawns all the way last season in his, and team-mate Sebastian Vettel's, capable hands.

And Jones believes that Webber can build on last year's career-best fourth in the championship to match Jones's own achievements of three decades ago in the new RB6.

"He's already displayed that he's got the speed, he's got the stamina, he's very fit and he's very consistent," Jones told www.speedcafe.com.au in an interview with the Australian website. "They're the things you need for a championship."

Webber's win in the German Grand Prix - the first F1 victory for an Australian since Jones's last win at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, in 1981 - followed by his terrific Brazil victory, are a great base for success, Jones suggests, as are the solidity of the Red Bull Racing set-up and the quality of the car.

"Winning your first race is certainly a terrific morale-booster, and I believe that Mark drove with a lot more confidence after he won his first grand prix," Jones added. "He had a handle on what to do and, providing Red Bull give him a good car this year – which I think they will – he's well-set to have a crack at the championship."

Keep up with all the news on Mark and his RBR team at redbullracing.com