Lewis Hamilton has also struggled to shine on Pirelli’s 2013 tyres.
That is the claim of Red Bull’s Mark Webber, who is ending his long formula one career at the end of the season and switching to Le Mans for 2014 and beyond.
F1’s controversial tyre supplier, however, is staying put for at least another three years.
Having gone head-to-head with Sebastian Vettel for the Bridgestone-shod 2010 title, Australian Webber has increasingly struggled at Red Bull alongside the German ever since.
Is Pirelli the secret?
"I don’t know if there’s a secret," Vettel said after winning in Abu Dhabi; his eleventh win of the season, and his seventh on the trot.
Webber, in contrast, has not won at all in 2013.
He has said on record that Pirelli’s sensitive tyres this year do not suit his style. Webber thinks Mercedes’ Hamilton is having a similar problem.
"He is having trouble expressing himself on the Pirelli tyres, like me," he told the Daily Mail.
"It’s not meant to be an excuse, even if it probably sounds like one, but it’s obvious I had less success on the Pirellis."
Webber said his strength in fast corners, and Vettel’s in slow corners, at least partly explains this year’s results.
"For me, I have had to lift through the fast corners, it’s a big part from your lap time gone. Seb is very good in low speed corners, and he’s probably the master on the Pirelli tyres," said Webber. "It’s bad news for the others that Pirelli are staying."