GP: Spanish GP
Date: 13 May 2012
Winner: Pastor Maldonado, Williams Renault
It's always good to remember Pastor Maldonado, Venezuela's one and only Grand Prix winner.
He won in Spain in 2012, having started from pole position, after Hamilton, quickest in qualifying, was given a penalty.
The race turned out to be his one day in the sun, despite the best efforts of Ferrari's Fernando Alonso to beat him, but there was nothing doing for the Spaniard.
Pastor was over the moon and received a rapturous welcome, even his fellow drivers apparently delighted for him. And why not? He was likeable, extrovert, and he was a supporter of Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez, who reciprocated that feeling. “I'm a socialist champion in the most capitalist sport in the world,” said Pastor. A real character.
This was Williams' first win for seven years, since another South American, Juan Pablo Montoya claimed victory in Brazil in 2004. It was the also the last time to date that the English team got its name on a winner's trophy.
Was everybody happy? Of course, even if that Spanish Sunday was something of a mystery, given how far from the front of the pack Maldonado spent most of 2012.
It was definitely hugely significant for Williams, which was going through something of a crisis at the time.
Pastor moved to Lotus in 2014, switching to Endurance racing at the end of 2015.
His F1 stats show one pole, one win, one podium, all on the same weekend.
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