Webber captures Monaco Grand Prix

Associated Press

MONACO

Mark Webber won the Monaco Grand Prix from pole position on Sunday to lead Red Bull to a 1-2 finish at the famous street race.

Webber’s fourth career win moved him atop the Formula One standings ahead of teammate Sebastian Vettel, who overtook Robert Kubica of Renault at the start to finish 0.4 seconds behind. Both Red Bull drivers have 78 points after six races, but Webber leads with two race victories.

“To win here is a very, very special day,” said Webber, the second Australian driver — after Jack Brabham — to win the iconic seaside race. “This place is such a test for two hours.

“Absolutely incredible, and for sure the greatest day of my life today.”

Kubica held on to third place, while Felipe Massa of Ferrari was fourth ahead of McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton.

Five-time race winner Michael Schumacher dropped out of the points — from sixth place to 12th — after receiving a 20-second penalty for illegally overtaking Fernando Alonso at the last corner.

Schumacher passed Alonso just after the safety car had come on the track, claiming his move was OK as the two crashed cars had been taken off the circuit by then.

“The cars were removed. There was no further need” for the safety car, Schumacher said. “So I took my opportunity.”

Alonso, who benefited from a timely pit stop early on to storm through the field and overcome a last-place start, is third in the overall standings with 73 points for Ferrari.