Formula One: Mark Webber in Jack Brabham's slipstream

AUSTRALIAN Mark Webber is dreaming of emulating compatriot and Formula 1 great Jack Brabham today when he begins the showcase Monaco Grand Prix in pole position. The 33-year-old continued his team's stranglehold on the top slot, with Renault-powered Red Bull now having secured first place on the grid in six out of six races this season.

Webber is the first Australian to claim pole for the Monaco Grand Prix since Brabham 43 years ago. His stunning performance preserved Red Bull Racing's phenomenal record this season, posting the only lap this week under 74 seconds with a blistering 1:13.826 around the principality's tight, twisty streets.

It is Webber's second pole in eight days after his lights-to-flag triumph in Spain last Sunday, his third this season as he now shares top billing with team-mate Sebastian Vettel, and fourth of his career.

With the man at the front of the grid winning four of the last five races here, Webber is on course to become the first Australian to win in Monte Carlo since Brabham achieved the feat way back in 1959, which was the first of the now 84-year-old legend's career.

"This will probably sink in a little bit later," said Webber as he took stock of what he had just achieved. "It's a sensational place to get pole position, and it's such a big result for us, to get that here knowing this venue has been so hard for us in the past. It's fantastic.

"But I wouldn't be here without Jack. My dad, Alan, followed him when he was a young boy, and he started the dream in the Webber household about car racing, particularly open-wheel racing.

"My dad wasn't that interested in what he calls 'taxi racing', so he liked single seaters, and that's where it started I suppose. But Jack is an absolute legend of the sport, and he has been very good to me over the years.

"It's an honour to get the pole, and it would be the highlight of my career if I could join him on Sunday. But I've two hours work to do, so I'm under no illusion it's going to be handed to me on a plate."

Webber finished a quarter of a second quicker than his nearest rival, which was the surprise package of Robert Kubica in his Renault.

The Pole, who will now start from the front row for the first time since the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix, was top at one point in the closing ten-minute shoot-out. In the end, Kubica could not complain about his best performance for 34 grands prix, and Renault's best since Hungary last year.

Behind Vettel comes Ferrari's Felipe Massa and Lewis Hamilton in his McLaren, with last year's winner Jenson Button in eighth.

STARTING GRID: TOP 10

1. Mark Webber (Aus) RedBull

2. Robert Kubica (Pol) Renault

3. Sebastian Vettel (Ger) RedBull

4. Felipe Massa (Bra) Ferrari

5. Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren

6. Nico Rosberg Mercedes

7. Michael Schumacher Mercedes

8. Jenson Button McLaren

9. Rubens Barrichello Williams

10. Vitantonio Liuzzi Force India