Venezuela’s Maldonado wins Spanish GP
Driving with huge self-control, he produced a flawless race for the Williams team, delivering their first win since Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya won the 2004 Brazilian Grand Prix. Maldonado had become the first Venezuelan driver to take pole position when he was elevated from second place, following Lewis Hamilton’s disqualification for fuel irregularities.
In only his 24th grand prix, Maldonado drove with composure to make the most of his team’s clever strategy by holding off two-time champion and local hero Fernando Alonso of Ferrari.
“This is just such a great day for the team,” said Maldonado. “After last year, we have worked and worked, and pushed so hard, and I knew this was going to be a tough race, but to have my first podium and my first win — you can just imagine the emotions.”
Kimi Raikkonen finished third for Lotus. Romain Grosjean came home fourth in the second Lotus ahead of Kamui Kobayashi of Sauber and defending double world champion Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull.
A late charge by Vettel enabled him to rise to sixth by passing Nico Rosberg, who was seventh for Mercedes, and Hamilton, who also drove superbly to rise from 24th and last on the grid to finish eighth.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 14th, 2012.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ