Webber looking to end Australia's wait for Monaco win

MORE than half a century after Jack Brabham won Formula 1's most glamorous race, Mark Webber has a real chance to emulate his great compatriot on the streets of Monaco this weekend. The principality has had a special place in Australian motor racing lore since triple world champion Brabham, now 84, won there in 1959 for the first of his 14 Formula 1 wins.

No Australian has repeated the feat since, although Alan Jones finished second in 1981, but Webber definitely has what it takes. Fresh from a third career win from pole position in Barcelona last weekend, the Red Bull driver has the quickest car and Monaco is a track he has always revelled in.

He won the Formula 3000 race in the principality in 2001, was sufficiently impressive there in an uncompetitive Minardi in 2002 to get a drive with Jaguar and took third place with Williams in 2005.

"We know it is a special venue. It is a one-off on the calendar. It is a sensational challenge for the drivers. We all like going there," Webber said. "You certainly couldn't have a track like it now if you wanted to design and build one. It is a little bit on the edge. We know that but we will go there and give it our best shot."

Red Bull have started all five races so far this season on pole position, with Germany's Sebastian Vettel taking three of them, and fear no rivals. Qualifying will be tricky, with six more cars than last year and some inexperienced backmarkers likely to get in the way.

Mercedes have Michael Schumacher, a five-time Monaco winner, returning to form while Ferrari's Fernando Alonso – twice a winner on the harbourside track – is challenging hard. But Red Bull are confident. "It is a race we are determined to do well at," said team principal Christian Horner. "It is a circuit we weren't particularly strong last year at, but we feel we have improved the car in a lot of areas."

Red Bull's main rivals will be McLaren's two world champions Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton, who also happen to be the last two winners in Monaco.

Hamilton won in 2008, after finishing second in 2007, and loves the layout. He said: "It's the greatest track in Formula 1. My victory there in 2008 is still probably my best win in Formula 1 and one of the greatest moments in my career."

Championship leader Button triumphed with Brawn last year, and said:

"It was one of the highlights of my season, and also of my entire racing career."