Webber celebrates maiden Formula One win

NURBURGRING, Germany (AFP) --

Mark Webber secured his maiden Formula One victory and Australia's first since 1981 when he led team-mate Sebastian Vettel home in a triumphant one-two for the Red Bull team in Sunday's German Grand Prix.

Webber, in his 130th F1 race after eight years in the sport, started from his first pole position and overcame a drive-through penalty for a first lap collision on his way to a spectacular win at the circuit in the Eifel mountains.

The 32-year-old driver from Queanbeyan, in New South Wales, came home 9.3 seconds clear of Vettel as he raced to a victory that threw the fight for the world championship wide open.

The two Red Bulls finished first and second ahead of Ferrari's Felipe Massa of Brazil, who grabbed his first podium finish of the year, with German Nico Rosberg fourth for Williams.

Drivers world championship leader Briton Jenson Button of Brawn GP battled through to finish fifth ahead of his team-mate Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, the Brawn pair resisting a late charge from two-times world champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso of Renault.

Finn Heikki Kovalainen came home eighth for McLaren Mercedes.

Defending world champion Briton Lewis Hamilton finished 18th and last after a hot-headed attack on the opening lap saw him involved in a collision with Webber's Red Bull that cost him a puncture.

Webber bashed into Barrichello's car on the run from the start to the first corner, a collision for which he was punished with his drive-through penalty, but he overcame that with a dazzling drive to victory. (© Collings, 12 07 09)


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Published: Sunday 12th of July 2009 10:20:44 AM
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