Webber tells the Independent Newspaper Hamilton is a "novelty"

<p>Mark Webber believes Formula One wunderkind Lewis Hamilton's "novelty" value will wear off.

<p>The Red Bull racer says Hamilton has a uniqueness in the sport but it has a "shelf life."

<p>Webber has also warned that the British McLaren star, who rocked F1 last year by almost winning the championship in his rookie season, will have to get used to a downside in his career.

<p>Hamilton, 23, finished second to Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen last year and leads this year's series after his recent victory in Melbourne and fifth place in last Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix.

<p>"His career has gone off like a rocket ship but it won't always be like that," Webber told The Independent newspaper.

<p>"He's young and he's black which makes him unique in this sport, but that's got a shelf life.

<p>"He won't stop being black but it will stop being a novelty.

<p>"And he'll find that some of the column inches, maybe even this season, are totally negative and totally incorrect.

<p>"That's not easy to deal with."

<p>According to Webber, only the British are obsessed with Hamilton and comparisons with seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher are more than a little premature.

<p>"Look, he's talented, we all know that," he said.

<p>"But he's been in the sport for five minutes. People compare him with Schumacher. There is no comparison.

<p>"When he wins the championship, then he's got six more to win before he can be compared to Schumacher.

<p>"Yeah, he had a great first year. It was extraordinary what he did. But great sports stars are measured by their longevity. Pele, Steffi Graf, whoever."