With photographers and cameramen also in attendance, a swift evacuation took
place, with Maldonado turning hero to save his 12-year-old cousin Manuel.
The 26 year-old has been pictured giving Manuel, who is holding his uncle’s
winner’s trophy in his hand, a piggy back down the pit lane due to a broken
right foot covered by a protective boot.
As thick, acrid black smoke billowed from the garage, Williams personnel,
along with those from Caterham and Force India in the neighbouring garages,
fought to bring the blaze under control.
The FIA have confirmed in a statement that 31 team members were seen by
circuit medical centre staff, the majority for smoke inhalation, with 24
released.
Seven, however, were transferred to a variety of local hospitals for
treatment, one from Williams in particular for severe burns, understood to
be to 40 per cent of his body.
Regarding the fire, motor sport’s governing body added: “The flames were
quickly brought under control through the combined intervention of staff
from Williams, Caterham and Force India, supported by the circuit fire
services.
“The FIA is collaborating closely with the Spanish authorities investigating
this incident.”
Force India deputy team principal Bob Fearnley was fiercely critical of the
response of the circuit’s fire crews to the Williams garage incident.
“Incompetent would be a very polite way of saying what these people have done
here today,” Fearnley said.
“There’s no training, no procedures. I went down to see how my man is, and I
had to fight my way in.
“We need to look seriously at the training of people at the circuits. I’m not
impressed at all.”
The incident overshadowed the day for Williams and Maldonado, who had been
hoisted up on the shoulders of runner-up Fernando Alonso and third-placed
Kimi Raikkonen on the podium.
In front of his home fans Ferrari’s Alonso finished 3.1secs off Maldonado,
with Raikkonen just 0.6secs adrift in his Lotus after a stunning final
stint, only to run out of laps.
The Finn’s team-mate in Romain Grosjean was fourth, followed by Sauber’s Kamui
Kobayashi and reigning champion Sebastian Vettel in his Red Bull.
Vettel is now level on 61 points with Alonso at the top of the drivers’
standings, but ahead on countback of results.
After a stirring drive from 24th – after being hit with a harsh penalty for a
fuel irregularity in qualifying – Lewis Hamilton is eight points down after
he finished eighth behind Nico Rosberg in his Mercedes, with Jenson Button
an unhappy ninth and 16 points adrift.