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Webber finished season with broken shoulder

Mark Webber promotes his review of the 2010 season © Sutton Images

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Mark Webber has revealed in his new book he broke his shoulder yet again with just four crucial races left to run in 2010 but did not tell team boss Christian Horner about the injury.

In late 2008, after shattering his right leg in a mountain bike smash, Webber hid from his employer Red Bull the fact that he also broke his left shoulder. But with his injuries apparently fully healed, it recently emerged that Webber would miss the post-season Abu Dhabi Pirelli test due to surgery.

It was believed the operation was due to his 2009 pre-season breaks, but Webber has now revealed in a book that he was carrying a fresh injury into his recent charge for this year's title.

In his official book Up Front: A Season to Remember, he revealed that he broke his shoulder again after returning to Australia after the Singapore Grand Prix in late September. He again crashed a mountain bike when a friend fell in front of him. Webber's injury is reportedly known as a "skier's fracture"; not serious but deep in the joint and difficult to treat.

The book said he decided not to tell Red Bull boss Christian Horner, and that only his trainer Roger Clearly and FIA doctor Gary Hartstein knew about the injury and his cortisone injections in Japan and Korea.

"I didn't even know about the book, let alone the shoulder," said Horner. "It is obviously disappointing that Mark said nothing. It was an injury that did not appear to have any effect on his performance but all the same it would have been nice to know about it.

"Our drivers have an obligation to make sure they are fit. It seems bikes don't agree with Mark so maybe it would be better if he stayed away from them."

The reports on Monday said only FIA doctor Gary Hartstein and Webber's trainer Roger Cleary knew about the injury.

The injury might explain Webber's crucial loss of form after leading the championship at the time of his accident by 21 points from Fernando Alonso. And when he crashed, Webber was 31 points clear of his team-mate and eventual champion Sebastian Vettel.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.