2012 Spanish Grand Prix
- Maldonado voted Spanish GP Driver of the Weekend
- Spanish Grand Prix gets highest rating for five years
- F1 fans’ videos from the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix
- Top ten pictures from the Spanish Grand Prix
- Vote for your Spanish GP Driver of the Weekend
Calum (@calum)
13th May 2012, 14:51
Brilliant another new winner! Great win for Pastor, mature drive from a guy some say was only at Williams for the money.
Alfie (@alfie)
13th May 2012, 14:55
If I’m honest, I’m just surprised a pay driver could be this good, they don’t go hand in hand!
Slr (@slr)
13th May 2012, 15:00
Alonso’s technically a pay driver.
apextwin
13th May 2012, 15:26
on that reasoning so was ayrton senna
dkpioe
13th May 2012, 16:10
your a pay driver sir
hays33d (@hays33d)
13th May 2012, 22:35
*you’re
JerseyF1 (@jerseyf1)
13th May 2012, 15:01
Perhaps now everyone can stop going on about the sponsorship money he brings and accept that he has earned his place in F1 and deserves to be here.
I can’t wait for the next race, Pastor is something of a Monaco specialist and is going to be on a real high, but like many I’m hoping for a Lotus victory to make it six winners/constructors and keep the championship races wide open.
Thomas Baer (@yogibaer)
13th May 2012, 15:06
That would be the best thing in an already great season, then after that we’re off to montreal, we could even have 7 from seven, if Sauber get the win they deserve
Calum (@calum)
13th May 2012, 15:21
Webber to win in Monaco, Hamilton to win Canada… 7 in 7 is on!
danclapp (@danclapp)
13th May 2012, 15:58
@yogibaer really after what happend to ham today cuz no doubt he had the pace surely he deserves the win
S.J.M (@sjm)
13th May 2012, 15:00
Brilliant display by a driver many of us here (and Ill include myself) didnt think was good enough for Williams, let alone a race winner. Im so happy that Ive been proved wrong today, and in fairness to the lad, this win is on the back of some impressive performances this year.
To sound like a broken record, Im happy that both Pastor & Williams won today, truly a win that all neutrals can be happy about.
Eggry (@eggry)
13th May 2012, 14:51
This is it! EPIC!!
timi (@timi)
13th May 2012, 14:52
Incredible achievement from Maldonado! Absolutely incredible. Congratulations to him, hopefully it’s the first win of many.
Also, a huge mention to Hamilton. 24th to 8th, almost 30laps on his last stint; not too shabby if you ask me. Alonso also had a pretty good race.
The Lotus drivers also did a great job, with very good strategy. Shame it didn’t work out for them though.
raymondu999 (@raymondu999)
14th May 2012, 5:43
@timi Hamilton actually did 31 laps on his last stint – not quite “almost 30 laps” :P
Palle (@palle)
13th May 2012, 14:58
Great race, Maldonado has matured, and Williams have improved. Great to see them use an active, and not re-active strategy against Alonso. And Great to see Alonso initiating him and Kimi to lift up Maldonado on the podium. Very exciting race.
wongchinkong
13th May 2012, 14:59
Maldonado the winner in an under achieving Williams? Just unbelievable!
Christopheraser
13th May 2012, 15:21
I don’t think there is anything wrong with this year’s Williams. I wonder where it would be if Raikonen had gone there instead of lotus
Ian (@valkyrassassin)
13th May 2012, 15:37
I was wondering why Kimi looked so glum after the race, I know he very rarely shows any kind of expression his face anyway :P But maybe he was thinking that could have been him. I’m sure he’ll get plenty more chances this season though, as that Lotus is pretty quick everywhere.
arporter (@arporter)
13th May 2012, 15:06
Which drivers have gained their first podium with a victory? I think vettel was one at monza 2008. Any others?
Guilherme (@guilherme)
13th May 2012, 16:07
@arporter Jean-Pierre Jabouille and Giancarlo Baghetti scored their first podiums with their first wins. Actually, their only poduim finishes are their only wins.
Howard
13th May 2012, 15:08
Its great to see Williams back at the front after all the hard years they have had
Brownerboy (@brownerboy)
13th May 2012, 15:17
Well done Pastor, and Lewis, great drive from last. Little confused how Vettel managed to do his pit stops, and a drive through and still finish 6th
Solo (@solo)
13th May 2012, 16:28
He got a little lucky on the penalty time. It cam right after he made a pit stop so he could afford to do three fast laps on fresh tyres before passing threw the pits.
necrodethmortem (@necrodethmortem)
13th May 2012, 15:19
Glad we finally know what’s what :P
apextwin
13th May 2012, 15:24
that wiliams must be a cracker for malvado to win
Prof Kirk (@prof-kirk)
13th May 2012, 15:30
It has become apparent to me over the first five races now that the three key elements of Formula 1 are more influential than they have ever been, The Driver being on the edge, The Performance of the car, and finally the strategy and performance of the Team from the Pits.
Arguably during the Schumacher 2000-2004 era the Ferrari car was the best and if the team were to play even the worst of strategies it would still be in front.
Lewis today had the fastest car, Fernando was the best driver, Saubers strategy with Kamui maybe had the edge of being the best, but Williams had the best overall package of driver, car and strategy. That’s how the won today, and how i expect the rest of the season to play out for a few more races to go before some teams cars start to define the fields pecking order a bit more clear, but hopefully not!
1 of the 3
13th May 2012, 15:46
For the most part I agree with you, but disagree on Alonso being the best driver. I actually think Maldonado was better even though he lost out on the start. It was that blistering lap he did to get past Alonso while he was in the pits that really put an end to Alonso’s chance to win.
I’m also really impressed with Raikkonen and hope he somehow wins the WDC this year. Great to have Raikkonen back to mix it up and make the others re-think how good they actually are. But for me, Maldonado was the best over the weekend.
Aditya (@)
13th May 2012, 15:56
I really cant think past HAM for the driver of the weekend. And idk why everyone is ignoring VET’s amazing fightback…sure,he made a mistake but that comeback drive was majestic,and certainly a very fitting reply to all those who had claimed that he couldnt overtake!!!!
goondu86 (@goondu86)
13th May 2012, 16:12
Maldonado’s out lap after his first pit stop was reminiscent of Alonso’s 2010 Monza in lap, being right up there with a top qualifying lap
Prof Kirk (@prof-kirk)
14th May 2012, 1:02
I only justified Alonso as being a better driver with the sneaky assumption that the Ferrari is still a dog of a car.
adas
14th May 2012, 16:35
the F2012 B spec is hardly a dog car anymore~~ ppl need to wake up and stop delusion with he can win in a crap car ********~~!!
Pastor 4 Ever
13th May 2012, 15:30
Well, well: Now it is my turn: There you have your paid driver !!!!!! May be now you accept that what Pastor did in GP2 series was proper of a unique driver.
On your knees !!!, you, stars of the keyboard !!!!
danclapp (@danclapp)
13th May 2012, 15:52
you sure you dint just MAKE YOUR USERNAME TODAY LOL
dkpioe
13th May 2012, 16:20
does it matter if he did? whats with the capitals?
David-A (@david-a)
13th May 2012, 18:56
I guess he/she was hardly going to call themselves “Pastor 4 today“
Tango (@tango)
13th May 2012, 15:41
Massa must be feeling really bad. 2 points in 5 races when Alonso is first in the champ. In the races, being behind Massa = getting stuck behind a slower car, even if you are in a Sauber or a Force India.
Mouse_Nightshirt (@mouse_nightshirt)
13th May 2012, 15:50
I think Massa’s non-result is one of the more significant results in the race. This simply cannot go on. Massa is simply incapable of taking that car anywhere near the front.
Fixy (@)
13th May 2012, 16:01
I thought he drove brilliantly at the start.
dkpioe
13th May 2012, 16:22
yes massa got a penalty that every over driver in the grid should have got. see the vettel replay they showed several times, where apparently he drove too fast through the yellow flag zone, well watch button behind him, seemingly driving the same speed, keeping the same distance.
bag0 (@bag0)
13th May 2012, 17:00
maybe, but VET had his DRS open under yellow while BUT did not
uan (@uan)
13th May 2012, 21:26
but if watch the replay of the accident VET was right behind when it happened (probably a second or 2 max). Croft and Brundle said they don’t recall seeing a penalty for that before.
Fixy (@)
13th May 2012, 16:02
Unlike in Malaysia, where I wanted Perez to win as I like him as a driver and Sauber are my second favourite team, I’d have preferred to see Alonso win this time as I don’t particularly like Maldonado or Williams, although it’s great to see them win after 8 years and Maldonado’s driving was perfect.
dkpioe
13th May 2012, 16:16
the great thing is Williams proved its preseason worth, and remember i think after australia maldonado said the team could fight for a win this year, and they did. so perhaps more is in store. i think monaco will suit their car, along with renault.
N
14th May 2012, 10:40
The McLaren was the quickest car through sector 3 at Barcelona, which is tight n twisty, this is usually a good indicator of form for Monaco, id expect McLaren to be at the front again (barring penalties and team mistakes..)
AdrianMorse (@adrianmorse)
13th May 2012, 17:14
Excellent drive by Hamilton, very mature. He wasn’t too aggressive in his overtaking, but aggressive enough to make good progress.
I thought McLaren’s strategy for Hamilton was pretty poor, though. He was ahead of Vettel when he served his drive-through, yet finished behind him. I think they should have cut up that last stint into two, with 17 laps on hards and 13 on softs, for instance. To be able to do those 30 laps, he had to do a very slow pace compared to what I think he would have been able to. Consider this: he was ahead of Rosberg prior to his final stop, yet he was way behind when Rosberg made his, despite having the benefit of the undercut (and Rosberg was hardly flying at that point). Also, there was serious risk of this strategy not working if his tyres had gone off the cliff with 5 laps to go.
Of course, with an extra stop he may have been put back into traffic, but I don’t think it would have been too much of a problem. After clearing the scrapping Toro Rossos, I think he would have had a nice clear track in front of him to push and make up some good time. And even if he would have been in traffic for his final stint, his team should have had faith in him to pass cars on track. Hamilton was on a charge; they should have let him charge rather than send him on a 30-lap tyre preservation expedition.
I’m looking forward to Keith’s analyses; I think they will show that with proper strategy and some decent pit stops, he could have scored that fifth place that Eddie Jordan had predicted.
Raychris Dyson (@rdyson)
13th May 2012, 17:17
The Red Bull wings………I say different spec wings was used. They need to look at that. Not allowed.
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
13th May 2012, 19:34
@rdyson What makes you think that? They wouldn’t run an untested wing. Not would they change it to a different established wing. It would jeopardise performance.
uan (@uan)
13th May 2012, 21:29
so Webber purposefully lost 3-4 positions in half a lap just to get a new wing spec? RBR, too clever for words :)
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
13th May 2012, 19:38
What a great result for Maldonado! Lotus will be happy with another solid points haul for sure, they have lots to celebrate.
It’s a bit weird how our two new race winners team mates have both been unable to finish the race. There is something bittersweet about that…
Fixy (@)
13th May 2012, 20:04
Why didn’t Grosjean get a penalty for overtaking Vettel during the yellow flag period?
Kingshark (@kingshark)
14th May 2012, 8:44
Did he overtake him into T1? I don’t remember.