Venezuelan Formula 1 driver Pastor Maldonado had been quick throughout final practice and qualifying of the Grand Prix of Spain in Barcelona, but few seriously expected him to win the race on Sunday.
But Maldonado defied his critics - of whom there have been plenty since he entered Formula 1 - with a faultless maiden victory. In a superbly balanced Renault-powered Williams FW34, Maldonado kept his cool after losing the lead to Fernando Alonso at the start of the race and then withstanding huge pressure from the Ferrari near its end.
Maldonado became Sunday the fifth different race winner of the season, driving for the fifth different constructor.
For a while it looked as if Alonso had it made after his lightning start, but tire wear got him in the end after a valiant chase after Maldonado and he had to settle for second. The local hero was under serious pressure from Kimi Raikkonen in the closing laps and would likely have been overtaken had the race been over 67 laps.
Lotus had indeed great pace during the race - enough for the two fastest laps of the race for Romain Grosjean and Raikkonen - but it came far too late.
But Maldonado defied his critics - of whom there have been plenty since he entered Formula 1 - with a faultless maiden victory. In a superbly balanced Renault-powered Williams FW34, Maldonado kept his cool after losing the lead to Fernando Alonso at the start of the race and then withstanding huge pressure from the Ferrari near its end.
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| Photos: WRi2 |
Maldonado became Sunday the fifth different race winner of the season, driving for the fifth different constructor.
For a while it looked as if Alonso had it made after his lightning start, but tire wear got him in the end after a valiant chase after Maldonado and he had to settle for second. The local hero was under serious pressure from Kimi Raikkonen in the closing laps and would likely have been overtaken had the race been over 67 laps.
Lotus had indeed great pace during the race - enough for the two fastest laps of the race for Romain Grosjean and Raikkonen - but it came far too late.