An electrical fault with the fuel rig is believed to be the cause of a fire
that rapidly engulfed the garage, sending team members, photographers and
cameramen running for safety at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya.
Within seconds, clouds of black smoke were seen billowing above the paddock
and track.
As for Maldonado, with his cousin holding the winner’s trophy and wearing a
protective boot on a broken right foot, the triumphant driver gave him a
piggy back out of the garage and down the pit lane.
Bravely, Williams mechanics were joined in their battle to beat the fire by
personnel from other teams, notably Caterham and Force India in the
neighbouring garages.
It took 20 minutes to bring it under control, at the end of which nine people
received treatment – four from Williams, a further four from Caterham, and
one from Force India.
All were taken to the track’s medical centre, the majority for minor injuries
or smoke inhalation, and three Williams team members were airlifted to a
local hospital, one understood to be suffering from burns.
It was fortunate, given how rapidly the fire took hold and the volume of
people in the garage at the time, that no-one was severely injured.
With glasses of champagne going to waste in Williams’ paddock motorhome as
no-one no longer felt like consuming them, there was naturally a sombre
mood, replacing the euphoria from earlier.
A Williams team statement read: “After today’s Spanish Grand Prix a fire
occurred in the team’s garage which originated from the fuel area.
“Four team personnel were injured in the incident and subsequently taken to
the medical centre.
“Three are now receiving treatment at local hospitals for their injuries,
while the fourth has been released.
“The team will monitor their condition and ensure they receive the best
possible care.
“The team, the fire services and the police are working together to determine
the root cause of the fire.
“The Williams F1 Team would like to thank all of the teams and the FIA for
their support in today’s incident.”
As for Sir Frank, speaking shortly before the fire, there was obvious delight
at the team’s 114th victory, and for Maldonado especially.
“It’s a great story for Pastor who did a great job,” said the 70-year-old.
“He’s a very happy boy, he deserves to be, and this is good for the engineers
back home and those who built a good solid racing car. I’m very pleased.”
Asked about the suggestion Maldonado was brought in because of the money from
sponsors that came with him, Williams added: “Yeah, he was to some extent.
I’m not denying that.”
But Williams stressed that if there was any suspicion Maldonado could have
been a problem driver, “He wouldn’t have got in the team no matter how much
money”.
Williams added: “He did a very sensible job in GP2 and he fully deserves to be
in the team, with or without the dosh.
“The truth is if you haven’t got the dosh you can’t go Formula One racing.”
In front of his home fans Alonso finished 3.1 seconds behind the 27-year-old
winner, 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 Romain Grosjean was fourth, followed by Sauber’s Kamui
Kobayashi and reigning champion Sebastian Vettel in his Red Bull.
Vettel is level on points with Alonso at the top of the drivers’ standings,
but ahead on countback of results.
After a stirring drive from 24th, Hamilton is eight points down after he
finished eighth behind Nico Rosberg in his Mercedes, with Jenson Button an
unhappy ninth today and now 16 points adrift.