Monaco Grand Prix 2012 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Mark Webber claimed an emotional victory at the Monaco Grand Prix, holding off Nico Rosberg's Mercedes and Fernando Alonso's Ferrari to secure his second win at the principality and become the sixth different winner in six races. The Australian's triumph from fourth on the grid showcased his street circuit mastery and Red Bull's strategic brilliance, while Michael Schumacher's stunning pole position - his first since 2006 - provided one of the weekend's most memorable storylines before the seven-time champion's race unraveled.

Webber's victory was built on perfect tire management and opportunistic overtaking on Monaco's unforgiving streets. Starting behind Schumacher's pole, Webber positioned himself brilliantly in the opening laps, then capitalized when the race leader struggled with tire degradation and grip issues. The Red Bull driver executed a well-timed pit stop strategy that allowed him to leapfrog rivals and emerge in the lead during the crucial middle phase of the race. From there, he controlled proceedings with the authority and confidence that made him one of F1's most underrated talents, never putting a wheel wrong on the barriers that line every corner of the Circuit de Monaco.

Rosberg drove brilliantly to finish second, giving Mercedes their second podium in three races and demonstrating the team's growing competitiveness. Alonso secured third place for Ferrari, continuing his remarkably consistent points-scoring run with an inferior car - a theme that would define his championship campaign. Schumacher's pole position had electrified qualifying, with the returning legend turning back the clock to produce a lap that thrilled his fans, but his race ended in disappointment with a retirement. The Monaco result meant six different winners from six races, extending Formula 1's unprecedented run of unpredictability and leaving the championship standings incredibly tight with no clear favorite emerging. Webber's victory also marked an important psychological boost after teammate Vettel had claimed Bahrain, establishing the Australian as a genuine title contender.