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Webber drives to Monaco victory
Source: Agencies |
May 17, 2010, Monday
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MARK Webber swept to victory in the Monaco Grand Prix yesterday in a Red Bull one-two that catapulted the Australian to the top of the Formula One leaderboard.
The first Australian winner in the Mediterranean principality since triple world champion Jack Brabham in 1959, Webber led from pole to finish for his second victory in a row, following his Spanish GP triumph, and fourth of his career.
"Absolutely incredible, for sure this is the greatest day of my life today," Webber told reporters.
The last Australian to lead the world championship was Alan Jones in 1981.
In a race punctuated by crashes and four safety car periods, including the last three laps, Germany's Sebastian Vettel anchored Red Bull's second one-two in six races with Poland's Robert Kubica third for Renault.
Vettel crossed the line just 0.4 seconds behind the triumphant Webber, with the field queuing up behind the safety car to the final corner as the Red Bull mechanics leant over the pitwall to clap them home.
World champion Jenson Button, who won in Monaco last year and had led the standings before the showcase race of the season, retired on the third lap with smoke coming out of his McLaren's engine.
Webber took over at the top with 78 points, the same number as Vettel who has just one win this year, with Ferrari's Fernando Alonso third with 73 after roaring from last to seventh in the race.
Button, who has also won twice this year, slipped to fourth place with 70 points.
Ferrari's Felipe Massa finished fourth with Lewis Hamilton fifth for McLaren.
While Webber had clear air and never looked troubled, Alonso provided plenty of thrills as he carved his way back through the field from last place at the first corner.
The Spaniard, a double winner in Monaco with Renault and McLaren, had started from the pit lane after wrecking his car in Saturday's final practice.
He pitted at the end of the first lap for fresh tires as the safety car was deployed while marshals dealt with debris left scattered across the track after Nico Hulkenberg crashed his Williams in the tunnel.
Alonso then scythed repeatedly past the slow backmarkers as they exited the tunnel and moved further up as rivals then made their pitstops, before losing sixth place at the last corner to seven-time champion Michael Schumacher.
Schumacher, who might have dreamed of taking a record-equaling sixth Monaco win in his comeback season with Mercedes at the age of 41, again beat teammate Nico Rosberg who was eighth.
Germany's Adrian Sutil was ninth for Force India with Italian teammate Vitantonio Liuzzi collecting the final point.
The first Australian winner in the Mediterranean principality since triple world champion Jack Brabham in 1959, Webber led from pole to finish for his second victory in a row, following his Spanish GP triumph, and fourth of his career.
"Absolutely incredible, for sure this is the greatest day of my life today," Webber told reporters.
The last Australian to lead the world championship was Alan Jones in 1981.
In a race punctuated by crashes and four safety car periods, including the last three laps, Germany's Sebastian Vettel anchored Red Bull's second one-two in six races with Poland's Robert Kubica third for Renault.
Vettel crossed the line just 0.4 seconds behind the triumphant Webber, with the field queuing up behind the safety car to the final corner as the Red Bull mechanics leant over the pitwall to clap them home.
World champion Jenson Button, who won in Monaco last year and had led the standings before the showcase race of the season, retired on the third lap with smoke coming out of his McLaren's engine.
Webber took over at the top with 78 points, the same number as Vettel who has just one win this year, with Ferrari's Fernando Alonso third with 73 after roaring from last to seventh in the race.
Button, who has also won twice this year, slipped to fourth place with 70 points.
Ferrari's Felipe Massa finished fourth with Lewis Hamilton fifth for McLaren.
While Webber had clear air and never looked troubled, Alonso provided plenty of thrills as he carved his way back through the field from last place at the first corner.
The Spaniard, a double winner in Monaco with Renault and McLaren, had started from the pit lane after wrecking his car in Saturday's final practice.
He pitted at the end of the first lap for fresh tires as the safety car was deployed while marshals dealt with debris left scattered across the track after Nico Hulkenberg crashed his Williams in the tunnel.
Alonso then scythed repeatedly past the slow backmarkers as they exited the tunnel and moved further up as rivals then made their pitstops, before losing sixth place at the last corner to seven-time champion Michael Schumacher.
Schumacher, who might have dreamed of taking a record-equaling sixth Monaco win in his comeback season with Mercedes at the age of 41, again beat teammate Nico Rosberg who was eighth.
Germany's Adrian Sutil was ninth for Force India with Italian teammate Vitantonio Liuzzi collecting the final point.
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