Mark Webber became the first Australian for 51 years to claim victory in the Monaco Grand Prix, spearheading a one-two for Milton Keynes' Red Bull Racing, and catapulting himself to the top of the championship standings.

In repeating his lights-to-flag triumph of one week ago in Barcelona, Webber now leads the way by virtue of two wins to one over team-mate Sebastian Vettel as they are level on 78 points apiece.

It was in 1959 that three-times world champion Sir Jack Brabham won the first race of his illustrious career, that around the Monte Carlo principality, with Webber now able to stand tall alongside his hero.

Vettel finished just 0.4secs behind Webber at the end of the 78 laps as the safety car had pulled in moments before, and for what was the fourth time in an incident-strewn race.

Robert Kubica grabbed the third podium place for Enstone's Renault F1 team, followed by the Ferrari of Felipe Massa and McLaren's Lewis Hamilton.

Reigning champion Jenson Button was forced to retire at the start of lap three, with smoke billowing from his McLaren.

And as Webber took the chequered flag just after the safety car returned to the pits, seven-times champion Michael Schumacher slipped up the inside of the Ferrari of a sleeping Fernando Alonso in his Brackley-built Mercedes to take sixth, although the stewards are to investigate.

Nico Rosberg came home eighth in his Mercedes, followed by the Silverstone-built Force Indias of Adrian Sutil and Vitantonio Liuzzi, with the Toro Rossos of Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari 11th and 12th and the only other cars to finish.