FORMULA ONE SPANISH GRAND PRIX:PASTOR MALDONADO raced to victory here yesterday and then, 90 minutes later, carried his 12-year-old cousin to safety from the fire that engulfed the Williams garage on a dramatic day at the Spanish Grand Prix.
Manuel Maldonado was wearing a cast to protect his injured ankle. The fire brought an abrupt end to the celebrations to mark the team’s first victory since 2004, 132 races ago, as well as Maldonado’s maiden victory.
Nine team members were injured, four from Williams, one of whom was airlifted to hospital, four from Caterham and one from Force India.
The area was full, not only with Williams staff but members of the majority of the 12 teams in Formula One. The team principal,Frank Williams, a paraplegic, who is one of the sport’s best known and most cherished figures, was wheeled to safety.
It was in the motorhome beside the garage that Williams, 70 last month, was the unwitting host of a surprise birthday party. Even after the fire had been put out, by mechanics and other team personnel, a cloud of acrid smoke hung over the paddock and those who approached the area were forced into a choking retreat.
The reserve driver Valtteri Bottas said: “I was there when Frank was giving his speech to everyone. I felt an explosion from behind, somewhere from the fuel area, and everyone ran out quickly.”
It was a sombre conclusion to a party after the Venezuelan, a 300 to 1 outsider at the start of the weekend, won his first grand prix at the 24th attempt.
Promoted to pole following Lewis Hamilton’s banishment, he had driven an exemplary race and led, virtually, from start to finish, and got the better of a strategic battle with Fernando Alonso.
When Williams – speaking before the fire – was asked when he felt confident he had won the race he said: “Ten laps from the end when Ferdy backed off. I thought ‘there is no charity in that one’.”
Alonso said that he had lost something aerodynamically. The 27-year-old Maldonado, in only his second season, has been described as a “pay driver” who was not worth his drive. But Williams added: “He’s kicked that one well into touch. I am delighted. We have a very well balanced team and car, the aero team have excelled and delivered a car that is pretty competitive.”
The Lotuses of Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean were third and fourth, ahead of the charging Sauber of Kamui Kobayashi.
But despite a brilliant drive from Hamilton it was another disappointing day for McLaren; Hamilton was eighth and Jenson Button ninth.
Guardian Service
