Formula 1: Maldonado stuns Spain!

If you were asked to pick possible winners for the races in the 2012 F1 season, would Pastor Maldonado be one of the names you would have chosen? I will wait while you battle your conscience.

The starting grid for Round 5 on Sunday, if you did not watch qualifying, must have raised a few eyebrows. On pole was a new kid on the block, Pastor Maldonado. Alonso, the local superstar was next to him. Vettel, Webber, Button and others were in the distance and posed no immediate threat. McLaren pulled a low-fuel stunt from the bag during qualifying, so despite qualifying on pole, Hamilton was hurled to the back of the grid!

The fact that teams were fresh from testing, Round 5 was highly anticipated. Questions to be answered were floating everywhere – Would we see the first repeat winner? Red Bull Racing and Sebastian Vettel – were they really back to their winning ways? Would we see another ‘brand new’ winner?

Maldonado

When the departing red lights ordered forward motion, Maldonado veered right to stifle Alonso, but the Spaniard would have none of it. Alonso’s Ferrari sped to the front and led lap1. Alonso appeared to be comfortable in the lead but we all knew that drama was only a tyre rotation away!

The big guns ditched their tyres by lap 10 and despite several changes made at McLaren, their pit-stop woes continued when Hamilton made one of his trips to pit-lane. In a race which had more drama than Stars’ Magic City – punctured tyre, Red Bull front-wing change and the ever-present killer, tyre-degradation, Maldonado didn’t blink.

Maldonado eventually blew by Alonso courtesy of a pit-stop, but the pass was only possible after Maldonado clicked off quick lap times. When Maldonado went P1, he embraced the moment. He was at one stage 7 seconds ahead, but we knew that the Spanish bull –Alonso- would make more than one attempt to upset that party.

The assault expected came, but Alonso aboard an imperfect Ferrari, could only close the gap. He could not find the surgical performance required to close and slip by Maldonado. Truth is, both machines (Alonso’s and Maldonado’s) are a bit suspect, but make no mistake, Maldonado drove a superb race and having stunned the crowd and humbled Alonso, he (Maldonado) was rewarded with a well-deserved victory. A first for the Venezuelan and Williams’ first since 2004. Five races, five different winners – the unpredictability continues! Who will win Round 6 in Monaco?

Cecil Munroe Gleaner On-Line Writer