The 26-year-old, who returned after a miserable year with McLaren in 2007, said he hoped that the team would improve in all areas to make a title bid possible next year.
'I would like to have wheel-to-wheel (battles) with Ferrari or McLaren in a real race,' he said. 'So, that is the real target for next season. We were too far behind in Melbourne.'
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
RED BULL'S RED FACES: David Coulthard took no part in yesterday's second practice session for the Malaysian Grand Prix. This was after a serious accident prompted race stewards to question whether his Red Bull car is safe enough to race.
Coulthard ran wide at a corner, drove across the grass and attempted to rejoin the circuit. But the action of going over a curb snapped the front wheels off his car and he slid into a gravel trap. One of the wheels came loose from its tethers and separated from the chassis.
The FIA has strengthened the laws on tethers in an effort to prevent stray wheels endangering race marshals and fans.
Red Bull have continued to work with stewards in an attempt to prove the car can take place in today's qualifying.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
THANK YOU, TODT: The tributes are flowing in for Ferrari's Jean Todt, who quit as chief executive on Monday, only four months after retiring as team principal.
Todt, who has been in Malaysia in his continued advisory role to Formula One's biggest team, received an outpouring of praise from his colleagues as well as his rivals.
ASSOCIATED PRESS