Barrichello beat both Saubers and a Renault on his way to 12th.
| Rubens Barrichello | Pastor Maldonado | |
| Qualifying position | 18 | 16 |
| Qualifying time comparison (Q1) | 1’39.538 (+0.102) | 1’39.436 |
| Race position | 12 | |
| Laps | 55/55 | 30/55 |
| Pit stops | 2 | 2 |
Williams drivers’ lap times throughout the race (in seconds):
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | |
| Rubens Barrichello | 117.768 | 108.683 | 109.651 | 107.817 | 107.606 | 107.244 | 107.249 | 107.392 | 107.229 | 111.117 | 124.472 | 105.916 | 105.449 | 105.626 | 105.914 | 115.445 | 136.246 | 115.73 | 155.253 | 151.807 | 107.058 | 105.921 | 105.029 | 104.981 | 104.819 | 104.834 | 105.214 | 105.195 | 104.838 | 105.763 | 109.493 | 123.065 | 103.922 | 104.03 | 103.716 | 104.132 | 103.483 | 104.09 | 103.825 | 103.462 | 103.295 | 103.09 | 103.092 | 102.848 | 102.95 | 102.685 | 102.646 | 103.05 | 102.887 | 103.435 | 102.683 | 103.356 | 102.712 | 102.371 | 103.478 |
| Pastor Maldonado | 116.864 | 109.187 | 108.47 | 108.701 | 107.419 | 107.276 | 107.497 | 107.112 | 106.946 | 106.752 | 106.141 | 106.516 | 106.431 | 106.596 | 107.456 | 115.966 | 149.964 | 118.606 | 155.104 | 152.679 | 106.537 | 109.914 | 116.761 | 106.767 | 105.06 | 104.689 | 104.904 | 108.234 | 122.349 | 110.354 |
Rubens Barrichello
| Start tyre | Super soft |
| Pit stop 1 | Soft 21.722s |
| Pit stop 2 | Soft 22.347s |
Barrichello made a single run in Q1 and abandoned his second lap as he felt he wasn’t going to be an improvement. He was knocked out by Maldonado and started 18th.
He hugged the inside of the first corner at the start, staying out of trouble and gaining three places, though he was passed by Sebastien Buemi on lap three.
He was one of the first drivers to make a scheduled pit stop, coming in on lap ten and switching from super soft to soft tyres. He had good pace in his final stint, also on soft tyres, passing Bruno Senna on lap 50 on his way to 12th place.
Rubens Barrichello 2011 form guide
Pastor Maldonado
| Start tyre | Soft |
| Pit stop 1 | Soft 21.569s |
| Pit stop 2 | Soft 22.035s |
Maldonado started on soft tyres expecting to make three stops. But race engineer Xevi Pujolar said the team realised within the first few laps he could finish the race with only two visits to the pits.
Like Barrichello he made up ground at the start but couldn’t contain Buemi’s Toro Rosso with its superior straight-line speed.
He picked up a drive-through penalty (his third of the year) for hitting the marker cone at the pit lane exit, which the drivers had been instructed not to do.
The team retired him from the race later on with an engine problem.
Pastor Maldonado 2011 form guide
2011 Korean Grand Prix
Image © Williams/LAT
Ben Needham (@ben-n)
17th October 2011, 11:57
I never thought I’d say that 12th is a good result for Williams…
To beat a Renault and the Saubers makes a very good showing by Barrichello. Unfortunately I can’t see him at the team next season. Although he is one of my favourite drivers, I think he’ll be out of a drive come next year.
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
17th October 2011, 13:31
@ben-n It’s a little tragic when 12th is a good result for Williams, yes!
Williams would do well to hang on to him, given the level of change they’re going through. Consistency and experience are exactly what they need (as well as money).
Ben Needham (@ben-n)
17th October 2011, 13:53
@andrewtanner , I completely agree that they should hang on to him.
It’s a shame that they have this financial problem hanging over them. A line-up of, say, Barrichello and Sutil would be excellent. But a line-up of Sutil and Maldonado looks decidedly less competent.
Nothing against Maldonado of course, I think he’s actually compared quite well with Rubens.
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
17th October 2011, 13:58
@ben-n Going back a few months, I remember Williams managing to report profits since floating on the stock exchange, I don’t know enough about finances to categorically say their future is looking bright, but I hope so.
Maldonado is doing alright, yea. Hopefully next year he will have a better car and a more experienced head on him to capitalise on his opportunity.
And yea, I can’t see Sutil being much of a step forward.
AKM
17th October 2011, 11:57
Rubens trying so hard but a seat next year is uncertain. Time to go I guess…or look for sponsor??
gabal (@gabal)
17th October 2011, 13:21
So that is why Maldonado received a penalty. I thought he got it because of something he did while entering the pits as the wording of the steward’s decision seemed to indicate.
Hybrid F1 Curse
17th October 2011, 23:10
Rubinho is here to stay! :^)
Mike (@mike)
18th October 2011, 3:17
Rubens isn’t the quickest guy anymore. But he’s a safe pair of hands. I think a team like Williams that is struggling needs that.
Klon (@)
18th October 2011, 10:40
I liked Barrichello’s double overtaking of a Sauber (Kobayashi?) and Senna earlier in the race. Really, he cannot do much more than he has done today to show that this year’s car is just not good, to be polite.
azwris
5th November 2011, 20:26
Rubens must drive in 2012, he’s the best!