Button takes Monaco Grand Prix

England's Jenson Button drove a flawless race through the streets of Monte Carlo today to win the Monaco Grand Prix - his fifth victory in six races. Team-mate Rubens Barrichello came second to give the rookie Brawn team another one-two.

Equally thrilling to those watching the classic race from the balconies of their luxury apartments was that the two Ferrari drivers, Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa, finished third and fourth - the first time this season a Ferrari driver has made it onto the podium.

Last year's champion Lewis Hamilton, however, could manage only 12th place having had a pile-up during Saturday's qualifiers which meant he started at the back of the grid.

For Button it was especially gratifying: Monaco is his home and he had never won here before. "Before the weekend I said this race doesn't mean anything different for any other, that was more to stop the pressure building up on me," he told BBC Sport. "It's a bit of a lie really. We all know the truth - this circuit is fantastic."

His team boss, Ross Brawn, was equally pleased. "I'm lost for words with him because he's exceeding everything I thought possible. Stunning."

The victory puts Button on 51 points in the driver's championship stakes, 16 ahead of Barrichello and 28 ahead of third-placed Sebastian Vettel, who scored no points today after slamming his Red Bull into a barrier.

For Ferrari, the result was a huge relief. Last year's constructors champions have endured their worst ever start to a season. "It shows we are working in the right direction," said Ferrari team boss Stefano Domencali. ·