2012 Spanish Grand Prix grid

2012 Spanish Grand Prix

12th May 2012, 14:046th September 2023, 0:03 | Written by Keith Collantine

Row 1	1. Pastor Maldonado 1’22.285 Williams
		2. Fernando Alonso 1’22.302 Ferrari
Row 2	3. Romain Grosjean 1’22.424 Lotus
		4. Kimi Raikkonen 1’22.497 Lotus
Row 3	5. Sergio Perez 1’22.533 Sauber
		6. Nico Rosberg 1’23.005 Mercedes
Row 4	7. Sebastian Vettel No time Red Bull
		8. Michael Schumacher No time Mercedes
Row 5	9. Kamui Kobayashi No time Sauber
		10. Jenson Button 1’22.944 McLaren
Row 6	11. Mark Webber 1’22.977 Red Bull
		12. Paul di Resta 1’23.125 Force India
Row 7	13. Nico Hulkenberg 1’23.177 Force India
		14. Jean-Eric Vergne 1’23.265 Toro Rosso
Row 8	15. Daniel Ricciardo 1’23.442 Toro Rosso
		16. Felipe Massa 1’23.444 Ferrari
Row 9	17. Bruno Senna 1’24.981 Williams
		18. Vitaly Petrov 1’25.277 Caterham
Row 10	19. Heikki Kovalainen 1’25.507 Caterham
		20. Charles Pic 1’26.582 Marussia
Row 11	21. Timo Glock 1’27.022 Marussia
		22. Pedro de la Rosa 1’27.555 HRT
Row 12	23. Narain Karthikeyan 1’31.122 HRT
		24. Lewis Hamilton* 1’21.707 McLaren

*Sent to back of grid for stopping on track after his final lap

2012 Spanish Grand Prix

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94 comments on “2012 Spanish Grand Prix grid”

Antranik (@antranik)
12th May 2012, 14:06

Words can not describe how dissappointed I was when Hamilton bested Maldonados time.

And I don’t even like the guy!
1. DK (@seijakessen)
  12th May 2012, 14:07
  
  You’re not alone.
  
  I was hoping Maldonado was going to be on pole position. But fear not, I think Lewis has generally been meh with his launches so I could see him being out of first by the time they hit turn 1.
  1. Kingshark (@kingshark)
    12th May 2012, 14:20
    
    Knowing both Hamilton and Maldonado, I fear that turn 1 might end in tears.
    1. caci99 (@)
      12th May 2012, 14:27
      
      That’s what i thought too. Between Lewis and Alonso looks like is all settled down now.
    2. Eggry (@eggry)
      12th May 2012, 15:13
      
      maybe good news for Alonso though?
2. Pamphlet (@pamphlet)
  12th May 2012, 19:06
  
  @antranik Well, you can stop feeling disappointed now, Hamilton has been relegated to the back of the grid. Very harsh, but Maldonado is now on pole!
  1. Antranik (@antranik)
    12th May 2012, 22:36
    
    I’m still disappointed. Not as much, but it would have been so great to see somebody like Maldonado “legitimately” taking pole. However, this is going to be an amazing race for sure.
matt90 (@matt90)
12th May 2012, 14:06

Am I the only one who thought most of the tension was lost by them not showing any of the positions during Q3?
1. ROBBOC
  12th May 2012, 14:18
  
  Quite right. Considering all the millions they receive, it’s extraordinary that they let slip little things like this. Such a shame!
2. bosyber (@bosyber)
  12th May 2012, 15:17
  
  There seemed to be a lot of glitches with the timing/info from FOM during the sessions this weekend (see for example http://t.co/WAjQbOyU, via @magnificent-geoffrey)
  1. Magnificent Geoffrey (@magnificent-geoffrey)
    12th May 2012, 15:20
    
    @bosyber Actually, that was Mattzel89 the amazing motorsport video capturer who posted that, not me. I was just sharing it.
    1. bosyber (@bosyber)
      12th May 2012, 15:41
      
      Ah, thanks for providing the source, should have said “from Mattzel89 via @magnificent-geoffrey” then, as you alerted me to it :)
  2. matt90 (@matt90)
    12th May 2012, 15:23
    
    Poor stuff. I assumed for a while that Hamilton was the only one to set a lap in the first 7 or so minutes.
3. @HoHum (@hohum)
  12th May 2012, 15:29
  
  That’s because no-one was setting times until the last lap.
  1. matt90 (@matt90)
    12th May 2012, 15:33
    
    No, they still didn’t show the list even then.
Daler
12th May 2012, 14:07

How ’bout ole’ Moldynads!
JerseyF1 (@jerseyf1)
12th May 2012, 14:07

Five of the top six haven’t won a race this year, we could get our five winners from five races yet (with some chance of it being 5 constructors too).

Also, of the previous race winners what a surprise that it’s Alonso who looks to have the best chance of making it to two wins this season – a real improvement from Ferrari.
1. Todfod (@todfod)
  13th May 2012, 9:26
  
  Yeah. It’s unbelievable how the Fernando might be leaving this weekend as the championship leader. I dont think there car has improved by leaps and bounds, but it seems that Fernando can capitalise on the smallest of gains.
  
  Felipe on the other hand is still showing why he doesn’t belong in a Ferrari… and why no team would want to pick him up after he’s fired.
Craig Woollard (@craig-o)
12th May 2012, 14:08

Does Karthikeyan qualify? He was out of the 107% time…
1. Jake (@jakehardyf1)
  12th May 2012, 14:09
  
  He doesn’t
  1. Craig Woollard (@craig-o)
    12th May 2012, 14:16
    
    @jakehardyf1 Looking at it, he might actually, his quickest time in FP3 was a 28.2, and the 107% time was a 28.4, so he should qualify
  2. Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
    12th May 2012, 14:41
    
    @jakehardyf1 – The 107% rule is intended to keep slow cars out of the race, not slow drivers. The only times the stewards have ever refused entry to the race were when both cars failed to qualify within 107% of the fastest time in Q1, and when they had failed to show anything that could be considered reasonable pace over the course of the weekend. Since de la Rosa qualified and Karthikeyan was within 107% of the fastest free practice times, HRT would have cause to lobby for (and likely receive) a dispensation from the stewards.
2. Slr (@slr)
  12th May 2012, 14:10
  
  Considering he’s almost four seconds slower than de la Rosa, he must of had a problem, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him race.
  1. Mallesh Magdum (@malleshmagdum)
    12th May 2012, 17:09
    
    @slr yes KAR had a problem. Feel sad for Narain. He entered F1 on merit having won in every series he has ever raced in
Slr (@slr)
12th May 2012, 14:08

What a result! Each session was slow to get going, but when they did they were amazing.
Daniel Thomas (@iamdanthomas)
12th May 2012, 14:08

Pay driver paid off!
1. SouthPawRacer (@southpawracer)
  12th May 2012, 14:16
  
  Ba-dum Tshh.
2. cjpdk (@cjpdk)
  12th May 2012, 15:55
  
  COTD
Jake (@jakehardyf1)
12th May 2012, 14:09

Pirelli is making this year so crazy. What the heck!
1. Rails (@rjessalt)
  12th May 2012, 16:08
  
  Maybe expensive isn’t always the best, it turns out…..
bobo (@bobo)
12th May 2012, 14:09

I am personally profoundly unimpressed with the new Toro Rosso pair. In practice their times look far more competitive than last year’s car, but the drivers don’t seem to be getting the performance out of on qualifying or race day. At least I don’t feel that they are.
1. David-A (@david-a)
  12th May 2012, 14:23
  
  Every STR driver got at least 1.5 seasons, we’ll have to see how they go over that time period. I think they’ll do better than Alguersuari and Buemi, so their inter-team battle will be interesting.
  1. bobo (@bobo)
    12th May 2012, 15:32
    
    Exactly, so far it look like they’ll need 1.5 seasons to look better. In other words, they are not impressing and their performance is not an improvement.
    1. bosyber (@bosyber)
      12th May 2012, 15:43
      
      Heh, nice turnaround on @david-a‘s repsonse @bobo!
    2. David-A (@david-a)
      12th May 2012, 15:46
      
      Touche @bobo . I wouldn’t write them off yet, but the driver who was promoted from Toro Rosso impressed immediately, and these two aren’t doing as well.
      1. bobo (@bobo)
        12th May 2012, 16:21
        
        Fair enough @David-A; we’ll see. Thanks @Bosyber.
        
        I wonder whether they will finish close to the points tomorrow…
  2. me262
    13th May 2012, 5:57
    
    the str drivers are like Toro’s on thin ice
2. Neel Jani (@neelv27)
  12th May 2012, 17:22
  
  I don’t see STR 2012 drivers doing much different than STR 2011 drivers.
Diego
12th May 2012, 14:11

Why didn’t the alleged poleman return to boxes? Isn’t it penalty material? Any chance of disqualification for this race? Or for the next 1,000,000?
1. Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
  12th May 2012, 14:35
  
  Here’s what the rules say:
  
  https://www.racefans.net/2012/05/12/2012-spanish-grand-prix-grid/comment-page-1/#comment-1004420
juan fanger (@juan-fanger)
12th May 2012, 14:11

Did Lewis run out of fuel? Could be in trouble!
1. DD42
  12th May 2012, 14:19
  
  Do the drivers have to complete their outlap?
  
  I’m fairly confidant kobayashi turned off as he too ran out of fuel – running very light fuel loads!
  1. DD42
    12th May 2012, 14:22
    
    Do the drivers have to complete their in lap?
    
    I’m fairly confidant kobayashi turned off as he too ran out of fuel – running very light fuel loads!
  2. f1alex (@f1alex)
    12th May 2012, 14:31
    
    Kobayashi had a hydraulic leak according to sky..
Calum (@calum)
12th May 2012, 14:13

1. Mclaren
2. Williams-Renault
3. Ferrari

The 90s called, they want their grid back! :D
1. Paul Ogbeiwi (@)
  12th May 2012, 14:17
  
  LOL nice one :p
2. Younger Hamii (@younger-hamii)
  12th May 2012, 14:18
  
  I quote from someone on twitter ‘McLaren, Williams, Ferrari top 3, we’re back in 2003!’
Simon (@simon999)
12th May 2012, 14:14

Whilst the last couple of minutes of Q3 was exciting, all I can say is that Schumacher is right about these tyres.

We’ve just seen a great example of exactly why there being so much onus on the tyres is a bad thing. That’s not to say degradable tyres are a bad thing, but I do think it needs to be toned down a bit!
Dom (@3dom)
12th May 2012, 14:14

Just listening to Webber’s comments “we thought we had done enough, and got caught with our pants down”. That comes after vettel’s comments before the season started “we don’t know where everyone is until he drops his pants, and they see what you have and you see what they have”

What is it about red bull and dropping their pants?! Wonder what goes on behind closed doors at that team…
1. malos (@malos)
  12th May 2012, 15:00
  
  Hilarious!
2. bosyber (@bosyber)
  12th May 2012, 15:18
  
  good one, they do seem to have a fixation @3dom :)
  What did Red Bull give again? …
3. Blackmamba (@blackmamba)
  12th May 2012, 17:45
  
  Dom (@3dom)
  I havent laughed so much on these posts man, seriously funny!!
  1. Dom (@3dom)
    15th May 2012, 22:55
    
    Cheers guys, I thought this post had been removed. Happy to see it still up. Is it bad that I read it again and laughed at my own joke?! :-D
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
12th May 2012, 14:15

I have to say … I felt genuinely embarrassed for Bruno Senna. Even before Maldonado started setting those blistering lap times. To be brutally honest, that low-speed spin at the end of Q1 was one of the more-pathetic displays I’ve seen from a Formula 1 driver. Once again, Bruno Senna squanders a golden opportunity with a silly mistake. Unless he can pull two rabbits out of his helmet tomorrow (Maldonado having just pulled out the customary one), I’d say Senna’s days at Williams are numbered.
1. matt90 (@matt90)
  12th May 2012, 15:12
  
  It was a stupid mistake, but “one of the more-pathetic displays I’ve seen from a Formula 1 driver”? Really?
2. Guilherme (@guilherme)
  12th May 2012, 15:16
  
  @prisoner-monkeys
  
  I disagree completely. I think you’re being far too harsh on his season because of this qualifying session. Maldonado is very quick on a flying lap. He was even faster than Rubens in his rookie year. I don’t see how he “squandered” a golden opportunity with a silly mistake. Yes, he made a mistake on his first lap when he locked his front-left at La Caixa (and he claimed he got stuck behind Massa on that lap, but I’m yet to check that) and that’s what triggered the spin when he tried too push too hard on tyres that were not in their prime anymore.
  
  Once again, I do acknowledge his mistakes in today’s session, but no team principal on their right mind would sack a driver who scored the most points for them this season (10 more than Maldonado) because of that.
  
  As to “on the more pathetic displays” from a F1 driver, I don’t even think you believe that yourself. I for one have seen far worse.
  1. Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
    13th May 2012, 8:17
    
    no team principal on their right mind would sack a driver who scored the most points for them this season (10 more than Maldonado) because of that
    
    Even if that driver could coneivably – and by all rights should – have twice as many points as he currently does? Senna has 14 points now. He should have 28.
    
    Take, for example, Malaysia. He had the pace to match Alonso and Perez. In fact, he was the only driver who could do it. But because he lost his front wing on the first lap, he had to do an entire lap at a very pedestrian pace, and so any chance he had at fighting for a podium – or even the win – was lost. If he’d kept his nose clean, he could have switched onto the wet tyres and would have been third or fourth at the restart.
3. bosyber (@bosyber)
  12th May 2012, 15:39
  
  We saw some of those mistakes by Maldonado last year too @prisoner-monkeys, even where he didn’t just had a gearbox/hydraulic failure. Arguably, AUS this year was a bit silly of him.
  
  I guess driving a good Williams is something quite different from a part season in an HRT, and a non-developing Renault car. Let’s give Senna some time (until end of season?) to come good before we write him off. Maldonado has been clearly growing into his role as an F1 driver in the last 15 months too.
4. Slr (@slr)
  12th May 2012, 15:55
  
  I’d say Senna’s mistake at Spa last year was pathetic, the spin today was Senna just push too hard and taking too much kerb.
  
  Scoring points in Malaysia and China will have helped him, so I don’t think we can say his days are numbered yet. If he continues his current form for a few more races, I think his days will be numbered then.
5. damonsmedley (@damonsmedley)
  12th May 2012, 18:17
  
  I also think Bruno had a different set-up to Maldonado. Pastor seemed to be able to carry more speed through Campsa while Bruno was understeering — so on this occasion, I don’t think it was a level playing field.
Ken (@myxomatosis)
12th May 2012, 14:21

Aside from Hamilton’s blistering lap and Maldonado popping up in second, Q3 was incredibly dull. This is is what people mean when they say that tires are the dominant factor to the detriment of the racing. Watching the likes of Vettel and Shumacher just coasting around was boring, irritating and a letdown considering the excitement that Q3 is supposed to promise. These tires DID NOT improve the show.

Sigh, why can’t they just provide the drivers with qualifying tyres?
1. DD42
  12th May 2012, 14:28
  
  Exactly. 2 or 3 sets of qualifying tyres should be provided to each driver – if they need more they can take them from their race allocation
2. Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
  12th May 2012, 14:31
  
  @myxomatosis
  
  Aside from Hamilton’s blistering lap and Maldonado popping up in second, Q3 was incredibly dull.
  
  I’m inclined to agree with you, but only in the sense that the FOM television director broke the age-old rule of story-telling: it is better to show your audience something happening rather than telling them. Everyone went out at the last minute; there wasn’t much that could be done about that. But all we saw of it was an angle on the chicane and the final corner, and so we had to rely on Brundle and Croft telling us everything else that was happening on the circuit. It’s an unfortunate habit of the director that he follows the first driver out of the pits for a flying lap, and then only concentrates on the final corner; he’s done it all season.
  
  Sigh, why can’t they just provide the drivers with qualifying tyres?
  
  Ask the teams. Pirelli suggested qualifying tyres for 2012, but the teams refused.
  1. Ken (@myxomatosis)
    12th May 2012, 14:42
    
    I found myself wondering about the race direction too. Like you say, “show, not tell”.
    
    Do you know what the basis of the teams’ refusal was?
  2. matt90 (@matt90)
    12th May 2012, 15:16
    
    Plus for the first time today they decided we didn’t need a full list of driver positions. I find it hard to feel invested in a session if I can’t even see where the drivers are.
    1. bosyber (@bosyber)
      12th May 2012, 15:46
      
      I was watching with my laptop+external monitor containing f1fanaticlive,bbc/autosport live blog thing; live timing, and my brothers laptop with a live stream – I kept updating us on what the times actually were doing :)
  3. @HoHum (@hohum)
    12th May 2012, 15:43
    
    Since all the drivers were setting their times on the same lap it was not possible to show each ones lap in more than 1 section of the track live, not the producers fault that no-one wanted to use up their tyres.
3. Guilherme (@guilherme)
  12th May 2012, 14:31
  
  @myxomatosis Honestly, we wouldn’t have drivers coasting around in Q3 if they weren’t forced to start the race on their Q3 tyres. That rule was stupid with the Bridgestones, and it’s even more so with the Pirellis.
4. Faca
  12th May 2012, 14:39
  
  Blistering lap because he was with less fuel than the other drivers. No merit in that. He might get penalized after all he did the same in Canada and a rule was created by that. Kobayashi had hidraulic problems. Guess what Maldonado scored his first pole and the cheater is going backwardss
  1. GeordiePorker (@geordieporker)
    12th May 2012, 14:53
    
    Have we actually found out that Hamilton ran out of fuel yet? Or are you just having a go at him with half the facts for a laugh?
  2. Ken (@myxomatosis)
    12th May 2012, 14:56
    
    Who says that he had less fuel than the others? Is that the only reason a car might stop on track? Don’t jump to conclusions based solely on your irrational hatred of a driver or team.
    
    Calm down, these are just sportsmen. You are not obligated to invest your every emotion into the sport.
  3. matt90 (@matt90)
    12th May 2012, 15:19
    
    Half a lap less fuel wouldn’t give anybody an advantage of over half a second. They wouldn’t be stupid enough to do it intentionally. Even if it does turn out to be fuel, the idea that McLaren ‘cheated’ rather than made a mistake is laughable.
    1. @HoHum (@hohum)
      12th May 2012, 15:46
      
      Lets make everybody happy and penalise him half a second.
      1. matt90 (@matt90)
        12th May 2012, 15:57
        
        That would actually be a good idea any time somebody fails to get back because of fuel. Penalise them at least the equivalent (maybe double) time they might have gained from a full lap less fuel- that would discourage people to do it, without an over the top penalty if it is a genuine mistake. I remember hearing that roughly 0.1 seconds per lap is the gain each lap, so penalising in time rather than position for 0.2-0.4 seconds would seem fair more fair than any grid penalty. Or make it a percentage such as 0.5% to compensate for doing so around a longer track having a bigger benefit.
5. Lachie (@lachie)
  12th May 2012, 15:36
  
  Unfortunately I think the first solution to less exciting qualifying attempted will be qualifying points which I personally hope never touch F1.
Kingshark (@kingshark)
12th May 2012, 14:22

The three rows each consists of a champion, and a guy who’s only got 1 year worth of F1 experience. Anyone else noticed?
1. IsaacTham (@isaactham)
  12th May 2012, 14:45
  
  First six rows contain one world champion each.
  1. bosyber (@bosyber)
    12th May 2012, 15:47
    
    Great find those statistics!
Kingshark (@kingshark)
12th May 2012, 14:22

The three rows each consists of a champion, and a guy who’s only got 1 year worth of F1 experience. Anyone else noticed?
1. Kingshark (@kingshark)
  12th May 2012, 14:23
  
  * The three front rows.
bag0 (@bag0)
12th May 2012, 14:25

Just hope that both HAM and MAL can get out of T1 in one piece, well in separate pieces, but both having their car undamaged, if not I expect either BUT or one of the RBs will take advantage.
sunnymir (@sunnymir)
12th May 2012, 15:02

The first 6 rows have 6 WDC’s and the front 3 are on the left hand side.While on the same 3 rows the right hand side has 3 guys with only 1 year of experince.Going 2 be a exciting gp……..
Jason12
12th May 2012, 15:41

It seems Button needs the car to be absolutely perfect to perform.
Otherwise he just disappears into mediocrity.
1. Bigbadderboom (@bigbadderboom)
  12th May 2012, 16:08
  
  WDC= Mediocrity, not an equation i’m familiar with, normally i don’t comment on the disrespectful stuff, but really if thats trully your thoughts perhaps you watch the wrong sport.
  1. Colossal Squid (@colossal-squid)
    12th May 2012, 17:22
    
    WDC can sometimes be won by a mediocre driver. See Jacques Villeneuve. His career after 1997 wasn’t glorious.
  2. Mads (@mads)
    12th May 2012, 17:23
    
    @bigbadderboom
    So because he is world champion he can’t have faults?
  3. Neel Jani (@neelv27)
    12th May 2012, 17:35
    
    Look, I don’t want to start the “Lewis – Jenson, who is better?” but I agree with Jason to an extent.
    
    Both are world champions and have enough experience. Jenson finds understeer or balance issues etc. and the Lewis would also be suffering such problems at some point but still we never see Lewis going too slow. Lewis digs deep and finds time even when the car has issues while Jenson needs a car that is obedient. Jenson can’t control a brat :)
IsaacTham (@isaactham)
12th May 2012, 16:09

Just asking, when was the last time Hamilton failed to get through into Q3? His Q3 streak must have been extremely long, long enough for the record books I reckon! Last time I remember was Malaysia 2010.
Kingshark (@kingshark)
12th May 2012, 16:56

Raikkonen’s time was 1’22.487 not 1’22.497
jackal40 (@jackal40)
12th May 2012, 18:04

I have to say, I find it disappointing to see Q3 happen with 3+ drivers not bothering to come out on track and set a qualifying time. Is that bothering other fans, or am I alone in this.
1. Ken (@myxomatosis)
  12th May 2012, 18:38
  
  You’re not alone, I found it dissapointing too. A lot of people did. I was really looking forward to Q3. But at least a couple of drivers went for it.
2. AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
  12th May 2012, 21:12
  
  @jackal40 It doesn’t bother me too much to be honest. It’s just another strategic element for me.
  
  I think that it at least provides some fresh rubber for the top 10, which helps liven things up.
Michael (@michaelf1)
12th May 2012, 19:53

OMG! MALDONADOS ON POLE!
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
12th May 2012, 21:01

What a thoroughly messed up grid, especially now Hamilton has had his marching orders.

Maldonado qualifying 2nd on merit is impressive, really impressive. Williams have had a tumultuous time this season already with Adam Parr leaving so it’s good they can remain focussed and hopefully use this recent turn in fortune to attract some more attention to the team.

Both Sauber’s in the top 10? Superb. These guys are pretty good to their tyres usually so here’s hoping they use that to their advantage tomorrow, particularly Kobayashi having a fresh(er) set will help them too.

Pic and Petrov managed to turn the tables in their respective teams as well.

We’re on for a potential classic tomorrow. Even if we have a usual finish there needs to be plenty of action for it to happen.

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2012 Spanish Grand Prix

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Keith Collantine

94 comments on “2012 Spanish Grand Prix grid”