Pastor Maldonado Targeting World Drivers’ Championship Battle

After taking his maiden Grand Prix victory in Sunday’s stunningly entertaining Spanish Grand Prix, Venezuelan driver Pastor Maldonado now believes he has the ability to mount a Championship battle for the remainder of 2012. With Williams suffering a disastrous 2011 season, this is a stark contrast to their fortunes.

Pastor Maldonado became the first driver to win a Formula 1 race from Venezuela, as well as the first driver to take the Grove-based Williams team to victory since Juan Pablo Montoya did so in 2004. Now, as the F1 fraternity packs up and heads to the glamour of Monaco, Maldonado is aiming for more victories and podiums as he heads to his favorite track on the F1 calendar.

“Everything is possible.” Explained the 27-year-old, “We aren’t the best team at the moment. [But] the gaps are close and I’m driving well. I have a good feeling with the team and with the car. We are looking to do our best, looking forward to winning some races, to getting a couple more podiums. And I’m really happy because the team hasn’t won many races for many years so this is a great moment for us. I hope to continue like that.”

The celebratory scenes outside the Williams garage after the race were cut short when a freak fire ripped through the garages, injuring many as team personnel did their best to quell the flames. After the mayhem, the FIA released a statement confirming that 31 team members were seen by the Circuit Medical Centre staff, with seven being transferred to local hospitals to receive further treatment.

Williams will be hoping to push this disaster aside when they reach Monaco, and aim to continue their competitive form. The last time the Grove-based outfit won around the Streets of Monte-Carlo was in 2003 when Juan-Pablo Montoya was behind the wheel.

Picture Copyright © Williams F1 Team

Team Personnel Injured In Horrific Post Race Fire

As the post race celebrations were carried out after Pastor Maldonado’s superlative victory during the Spanish Grand Prix, a horrific fire engulfed the Williams garage as total mayhem ensued within the pits and paddock. 

With thick black smoke wafting through the pits and paddock, accompanied by an acrid smell, team personnel from all corners of the paddock were united in dousing out the deadly flames. As live pictures of the commotion were broadcast live from the track, emergency services rushed to the scene. However, a quick response from team personnel were able to put out the fire as ambulances, police, and fire engines rolled down the pit-lane.

Williams have now confirmed that four members of the team were injured during the blaze, with three currently remaining in local hospitals due to their injuries. The fourth has been released, whereas four further team members from Caterham have been sent to the tracks medical facilities for examination, one with a minor hand injury in comparison to the others who have respiratory issues.

The flames first originated from the fuel area of the garage, with team personnel still within the garage celebrating Williams’ first race victory since 2004. The team are currently working together with the emergency services to try and determine the source of the fire.

These events have somewhat marred what was a glorious birthday gift for Sir Frank Williams, who turned 70 last month. It was also the first time a Williams car had won from pole position since the 2003 German Grand Prix, when Juan Pablo Montoya won for the team.

Picture Copyright © Getty Images

HRT Hoping For Continued Progress In China

After failing to qualify for the season opening Australian Grand Prix, HRT will be hoping to capitalize on the lengthy break between Malaysia and China and continue progressing. In Malaysia, the Spanish outfit managed to both qualify for and finish the race, however some technical issues still plagued the team during the race.

“Although we managed to finish the race, cooling was still an issue at Sepang.” Explained Narain Karthikeyan, “Once we have it sorted out completely we’ll be able to unlock some more performance from the car. The back straight at the Shanghai circuit is of course one of the longest on the calendar and the tightening first corner is uniquely challenging since the corner entry is in top gear and by the time you exit you’re in second. It is a demanding circuit for traction, aero and braking stability in equal measures.”

However, the team are confident that their upgrades for the Chinese Grand Prix this weekend will prove enough to conquer these issues, and propel the team further ahead and nearer the rear-wings of the two Marussia’s of Glock and Pic. 

“The start to the season was very complicated because we were behind schedule with regards to the other teams.” Said Team Principal, Luis Perez-Sala, “We mustn’t forget that the F112 is only taking its first steps and, as of today, what we must do is progress without stopping. In Shanghai we’ll have some small updates to optimize cooling and aerodynamics, and the target for this weekend is to check that these adjustments work. To sum up, we have to get more out of the car but must also improve on teamwork and coordination.”

This weekend, both HRT drivers’ will compete in their third Chinese Grands Prix. In 2006, Pedro de la Rosa finished 6th for McLaren in the Spaniards most competitive season in the sport, which incidentally was one of his shortest after replacing Juan Pablo Montoya. The Spaniard believes the most important thing for the team at this stage is to firstly finish the races.

“After these first two Grands Prix we arrive in China much better prepared, with more mileage and having learned a lot, especially after the Malaysian GP.” Explained de la Rosa, who made his F1 debut in 1999 with Arrows, “All the data gathered in the last race is very important for us, as we mustn’t forget that we didn’t have a pre season. Now we have a better insight on the areas where we must improve, but the most important thing in this initial stage is to finish races. That is the prime objective in order to learn and improve race by race.”

With rain a threat once again in China, HRT will be looking to capitalize on what could potentially be another topsy-turvy classification in both qualifying and the race. One thing Narain Karthikeyan will be hoping to avoid is another altercation with Sebastian Vettel, after their coming together in Malaysia.

Picture Copyright © HRT F1 Team

Gary Paffett Selected By Force India For Reserve Driver Role

With the first practice sessions of the Australian Grand Prix only just around the corner, Force India have selected Gary Paffett as their reserve driver for the weekend, due to Frenchman Jules Bianchi testing for the coming World Series by Renault Championship.

The British driver, who is also McLaren’s reserve driver, has never before started a Formula 1 race. However, he has worked for the Woking based team since 2005 and has assisted the team during many test sessions working alongside the likes of Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso, Juan-Pablo Montoya and Jenson Button.

“I’m happy to be available for Sahara Force India for this weekend,” said Gary Paffett, “Of course, it’s unlikely that I will be called up and hopefully it won’t happen, but it’s nice to know that the team thought of me. I’d also like to thank McLaren and Mercedes for making me available should the need arise.”

Gary Paffett would replace either Nico Hulkenberg or Paul Di Resta only if either of the two drivers’ are unable to take part throughout the course of the weekend. Naturally neither the drivers’ nor the team wish such an occasion to arise.

Friday practice for the Australian Grand Prix gets underway in only 3 hours time, where Nico Hulkenberg will return to F1 action for the first time since 2010 when he drove for Williams.

Picture Copyright © LAT Photographic  

Jarno Trulli Surprised By Number Of Job Offers

After being replaced at Caterham by Russian Vitaly Petrov, Jarno Trulli has announced how he is surprised by the number of job offers he has received since he was replaced at Caterham. The Italian has raced in Formula 1 since 1997, and is regarded by some as a veteran of the sport.

These job offers are apparently outside Formula 1, which could see Jarno Trulli join the likes of Juan Pablo Montoya, Takuma Sato and most recently Rubens Barrichello in racing in another form of motor sport, most likely in America.

With the 37-year-old open to opportunities in both Nascar and IndyCar, he admits he needs sponsors to make these job offers come to life.

“I’m open to any possibilities as far as top level and professional racing is concerned.” Explained the Italian in an interview with AutoSport, “I’m happy to work hard, to go testing, to develop a project but I want something with a structure that at least gives me the potential for performance. Nascar and IndyCar could be a possibility, but obviously I don’t have sponsors. I’ve never had that in my career so I’ve had to deal with my talent and nothing else.” 

Jarno Trulli’s Formula 1 career spanned 256 races, which included 246.5 career points, 11 podiums and only 1 win at the 2004 Monaco Grand Prix for Renault.

Picture Copyright © Caterham  F1

Ben Edwards Becomes BBC F1 Lead Commentator

Ben Edwards today announced on the social networking site Twitter that he will become the new BBC F1 Commentator, replacing Martin Brundle to commentate alongside David Coulthard in 2012. This comes after Martin Brundle switched to Sky for next season to front their commentary team alongside fellow ex-BBC commentators Anthony Davidson and David Croft.

Ben Edwards has recently been the British Touring Car Championship commentator for ITV and has also previously fronted EuroSport’s Formula 1 coverage alongside former F1 driver John Watson throughout the 1990s. Once EuroSport lost the rights to broadcast F1 at the end of 1996 he began commentating on ChampCar (CART) for EuroSport and ESPN International and had undeniably his finest moment during the final laps for the 2000 Michigan 500 where Juan Pablo Montoya and Michael Andretti crossed the line side-by-side with Ben Edwards literally screaming in both delight and shock at such an exciting and close finish.

In 2002 Ben became the Lead Commentator for Bernie Ecclestone’s F1 Digital+ channel which was pay-per-view through Sky TV and was partnered by former colleague from EuroSport John Watson. However due to an unsuccessful 2002 season, F1 Digital+ ceased to exist and three years later Ben Edwards became the Lead Commentator for the new A1 Grand Prix Series launched in 2005. 

Although there has been no official statement from the BBC pertaining to Ben Edwards joining the team, he did say this on Twitter: “So, it looks as though it’s really happening. I will be the BBC F1 commentator in 2012 and I can’t wait! It took a while for things to be sorted, and thanks to ITV for being so understanding. Really looking forward to working with the crew.”

With both Sky and the BBC signing two superb commentators it’s going to be difficult to decide which channel to watch next seasons races on. 

Pedro De La Rosa Signs For HRT

Ex-McLaren Test Driver, Pedro De La Rosa, has secured himself a full time drive in Formula 1 for the next two years after signing for the HRT team, a contract that begins next season.

The Spanish driver is now 40 years old, and has expressed his determination to return to the sport after last racing in F1 earlier in the year at the Canadian Grand Prix for Sauber in place for the injured Sergio Perez. 

He began his Formula 1 career way back in 1999 for Arrows, securing himself a point at his first ever race in Australia by finishing 6th, a feat which he replicated a year later in the 2000 European and German Grands Prix, once again for Arrows. In 2001 he started the season without a drive, however after only four rounds he replaced Luciano Burti at Jaguar, alongside Eddie Irvine and again finished only two races in the points with 6th at the 2001 Canadian Grand Prix and 5th at the 2001 Italian Grand Prix. In 2002 he had his worst ever season in the sport as he failed to score a single point for Jaguar, which left him heading into 2003 without a drive.

Without a full time drive for 2003, he joined McLaren as a test driver, and that’s where he stayed until 2010 when he signed for Sauber. In that time, he raced numerous races for McLaren, one in the 2005 Bahrain Grand Prix where he replaced the injured Juan Pablo Montoya and finished 5th. He replaced Montoya again in 2006 when it was announced Montoya was headed to America to join the Nascar scene, and De La Rosa achieved his first ever podium in the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix finishing 2nd behind Jenson Button in his Honda as he secured his first ever race win. After that season, Kimi Raikkonen left McLaren as Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton joined the team whilst Pedro De La Rosa was demoted once again back to his test driver role. 

Pedro De La Rosa failed to get a drive for McLaren again and henceforth signed for Sauber in 2010 alongside Japanese rookie Kamui Kobayashi who amazingly out raced the more experienced De La Rosa as he was replaced mid-season by Nick Heidfeld. In 2011, he once again found himself without a drive and was only able to get behind the wheel once this season when Sergio Perez injured himself during Qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix and he was loaned out by McLaren.

For the first time since 1999 and 2000 it looks like De La Rosa finally has the resources to race for two seasons back-to-back, albeit with HRT who are at the moment still floundering around at the back of the grid. Pedro De La Rosa has, however, mentioned this and has already admitted it will be a tough challenge taking the team further.

Whether or not this fact will affect his racing, it will undoubtedly be a step forward for the team who have so far only raced with less experienced drivers, the most experienced being that of Vitantonio Liuzzi this season who has proven less than an asset for the team after suffering many poor results.

Pastor Maldonado To Receive Penalty For Abu Dhabi

Venezuelan rookie, Pastor Maldonado, will receive a 10 place grid penalty for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in two weeks time after being forced to use a 9th engine due to the limit of 8 engines per driver.

Maldonado suffered a terribly unlucky Indian Grand Prix weekend when he suffered from an engine failure and a gearbox failure resulting in further misfortune for the Williams team who have suffered their worst season in F1 since their inaugural season way back in 1978. In that time the Williams team have had a highly successful career winning 9 Constructors’ Championships, 7 Drivers’ Championships and 113 race victories, the last being the 2004 Brazilian Grand Prix thanks to Juan Pablo Montoya.

Williams have been the centre of attention lately in relation to their drivers for the next year, with 2007 World Champion and ex-Ferrari and McLaren driver, Kimi Raikkonen, possibly with a chance of securing Rubens Barrichello’s seat with Pastor Maldonado looking set to become his team-mate thanks to his huge funding from Venezuela.

Whatever the case for next season at Williams, the only direction is forward for them and it is undeniable that Kimi Raikkonen would be a huge bonus for a team currently floundering at the bottom of the F1 pecking order.