An unprecedented trend, in which all six races this season have seen a different winner, Webber's victory was nevertheless the second for Red Bull in 2012.

Brazil's Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) came second, and even though Alonso (Ferrari) failed to catch him, he is now at the top of the championship leader board ahead of last year's unstoppable Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull).

Germany's Vettel came fourth, pipping the UK's Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) at the post, who was only just ahead of Brazil's Felipe Massa (Ferrari), meaning practically a photo finish for the top six.

Despite Rosberg stopping for new tyres, Webber – who was in pole – held his lead the whole way round.

France's Romain Grosjean (Lotus) was tipped for the top three, but a collision at the start with Germany's Michael Schumacher (Mercedes) – who effectively won pole yesterday but was relegated due to earlier penalties – breaking the suspension on Grosjean's car and causing him to spin right across the track, although miraculously missing all the other drivers besides clipping Kamui Kobayashi's Sauber, which was later found to have suffered damage to the suspension and led to its driver's retiring.

Schumacher also retired due to problems with fuel pressure, losing his seventh place.