Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

Webber tops F1 leaderboard

Last updated on: May 16, 2010 22:17 IST
Red Bull's Australian driver Mark Webber sprays champagne after winning the Monaco F1 Grand Prix

Mark Webber swept to victory in the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday 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 and fourth of his career.

"Absolutely incredible, for sure this is the greatest day of my life today," Webber said.

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 gives double joy for Red Bull

Last updated on: May 16, 2010 22:17 IST
Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel with his trophy after finishing second

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.

Massa gives Ferrari fourth-place finish

Last updated on: May 16, 2010 22:17 IST
Felipe Massa negotiates a bend during the Monaco F1 Grand Prix

Ferrari's Felipe Massa finished fourth with Britain's Lewis Hamilton fifth for McLaren after questioning his team's advice to save the brakes.

"We're only halfway through the race. What the hell? Do you want me to race these guys or look after the car?," the former Monaco winner and 2008 world champion asked angrily over the team radio.

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.

Alonso finishes sixth after exciting race

Last updated on: May 16, 2010 22:17 IST
Fernando Alonso

He pitted at the end of the first lap for fresh tyres 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 times champion Michael Schumacher.

That incident was being investigated by stewards, one of whom was Schumacher's old rival and former world champion Damon Hill.

Schumi misses record-equalling sixth title in Monaco

Last updated on: May 16, 2010 22:17 IST
Michael Schumacher

The safety car was again in action after lap 31 when Brazilian Rubens Barrichello spun and ended up facing the wrong way on the uphill approach to Casino Square and 12 laps later when a loose drain cover was reported.

Barrichello, clearly unhappy, tossed his steering wheel out of the Williams cockpit and into the path of a passing car, that ran over it.

Schumacher, who might have dreamed of taking a record equalling sixth Monaco win in his comeback season with Mercedes at the age of 41, again beat team-mate Nico Rosberg who was eighth.

Trulli poops Chandok's party

Last updated on: May 16, 2010 22:17 IST
Jarno Trulli

Germany's Adrian Sutil was ninth for Force India with Italian team-mate Vitantonio Liuzzi collecting the final point.

Only 12 of the 24 cars were still running at the finish, with the safety car again deployed on the 75th of the 78 laps when Italian Jarno Trulli and Indian Karun Chandhok collided at the tight and slow Rascasse corner.

Lotus driver Trulli tried to go past the HRT on the inside and then rode up over it.

Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.