The Grand Prix of Spain in 2012: Pastor Maldonado's day

Today the GP of Spain would actually be on the menu. Unfortunately due to the coronavirus it can't take place today and we'll have to do with looking back at old races.

One of the most special Spanish Grands Prix, was the one of 2012. Pastor Maldonado, who was mainly known as a kibble pilot in the Formula 1 world, got a revival that weekend. In his second F1 season for Williams, the Venezuelan was in pole position out of nowhere for the race after Lewis Hamilton was taken out of qualifying.

At the beginning of the race Maldonado quickly lost the lead to Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso. At the pit stops Maldonado managed to take his lead back from the Spaniard. Alonso quickly came back, after which the second set of pitstops came.

Maldonado's pit stop was anything but flawless. The Williams driver lost two to three valuable seconds due to a problem with the left rear wheel. Just after the stops Alonso had closed the gap to Maldonado and it looked like it was going to be a sprint race to the finish.

Alonso put incredible pressure on Maldonado and for a moment it looked like Alonso would overtake the Venezuelan. But Maldonado kept driving strong. Alonso stopped the attack and seemed satisfied with a second place.

Maldonado won his first and only Grand Prix. It was also the first victory for Williams since the Brazilian Grand Prix of 2004.