Hamilton celebrates third victory in Hungary - Raikkonen second 

 

Hamilton triumphs in Hungary

Lewis Hamilton won Sunday's Formula 1 Grand Prix of Hungary. The Englishman drove his McLaren-Mercedes one at the Hungaroring a start-finish victory. Hamilton celebrated the 19th Success of his career, the third after 2007 and 2009 in Hungary. Behind the 27-year-old landed the two Lotus drivers Kimi Raikkonen of Finland and Romain Grosjean of France in second and third.

 

The German world champion Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) finished fourth, just behind the Spanish landed championship leader Fernando Alonso (McLaren) finished fifth. With 164 points, Alonso leads the World Cup to continue confidently, closely followed by the now crowded in Hungary, only eight-placed Red Bull's Australian Mark Webber (124), Vettel (122), Hamilton (117) and Raikkonen (116). Formula 1 is now adopted in the summer break, the next race is on 2 September in Belgium on the program.

Final standings after 69 laps:
1.	Lewis Hamilton	GBR	McLaren
2.	Kimi Raikkonen	FIN	Lotus	+ 1,0
3.	Romain Grosjean	FRA	Lotus	10,5
4.	Sebastian Vettel	ENG	Red Bull	11,1
5.	Fernando Alonso	ESP	Ferrari	26,6
6.	Jenson Button	GBR	McLaren	30,2
7.	Bruno Senna	BRA	Williams	33,8
8.	Mark Webber	OFF	Red Bull	34,4
9.	Felipe Massa	BRA	Ferrari	38,3
10.	Nico Rosberg	ENG	Mercedes	51,2
11.	Nico Hulkenberg	ENG	Force India	57,2
12.	Paul di Resta	GBR	Force India	1:02,8
13.	Pastor Maldonado	VEN	Williams	1:03,6
14.	Sergio Perez	MEX	Clean	1:04,4
15.	Kamui Kobayashi	JPN	Clean	a round
16.	Daniel Ricciardo	OFF	Toro Rosso	a round
17.	Jean Eric Vergne	FRA	Toro Rosso	a round
18.	Heikki Kovalainen	FIN	Caterham	a round
19.	Vitaly Petrov	RUS	Caterham	two rounds
20.	Charles Pic	FRA	Marussia	two rounds
21.	Timo Glock	ENG	Marussia	three rounds
22.	Pedro de la Rosa	ESP	HRT	three rounds

Out: Michael Schumacher (GER / Mercedes),

Narain Karthikeyan (IND / HRT)

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Vettel at Hockenheim with two curses

With Sebastian Vettel, Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg, Timo Glock and Nico Hulkenberg five German in Germany Grand Prix Formula 1 go on Sunday at Hockenheim at the start. Six years after Schumacher it should now work mainly for Vettel finally. The Red Bull driver must be in the title match against team mate Mark Webber and Fernando Alonso, Ferrari star to catch up.

Schumacher has been the only home race and also won the 43-year-old also has all of his four wins - celebrated in Hockenheim - last in 2006. Therefore should be the same with two "curses" circuit. Vettel has never been in July and still not win a home race. So does the 25-year-old double world champion, who is only 50 kilometers away from the track grew into Heppenheim, the World Cup half-time in 2012 for the fifth starting their first home win of his Formula 1 career. He would shrink to a different series. Only in Germany, Canada and Hungary, Vettel has not yet celebrated Grand Prix victories.

For the Germans, the tenth race of the season is a total of 20 races a question of honor home. "We are famous for our beaches, and perhaps not seas, but I already know that the fans and the atmosphere will be brilliant again," said Vettel. The defending champion is under pressure, especially after Webber celebrated last at Silverstone, his second win of the season and a few days later extended his contract with Red Bull until 2013.

Many opportunities for his first world title will no longer get the 36-year-old Australian soon. And how to win in Germany against his own teammates, knows Webber: Vettel 2009, he pointed at the Nurburgring in second place. And on the Hockenheimring, he said: "It's a track on which you can attack."

In the championship standings, Webber (116) before the 33 Germany Grand Prix in second place with 13 points behind Ferrari star Fernando Alonso (129). Vettel (100) has 29 points less than the Spanish leader, and therefore can not even win back with a win (25 points) on the 4.574-kilometer Hockenheimring the championship lead. Perhaps but a week later, when the last race in Hungary before the summer break comes.

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Banker jailed for $44m Formula 1 bribe

 

A German banker who told a court he took a $44 million bribe from Formula 1 head Bernie Ecclestone, has been jailed for more than eight years after being convicted of corruption, tax evasion and fraud.

Gerhard Gribkowsky, 54, who was risk manager at the Bayern Landesbank, admitted taking the bribe from Ecclestone in 2006.

He took the payment in return for ensuring that a majority share of Formula 1 rights, which fell to the bank following the bankruptcy of the Kirch media group, were sold to Ecclestone’s preferred candidate.

He also did not declare the money to the German tax authorities, moving it instead to Austria to found a charity.

During his final arguments on Wednesday in Munich district court chief prosecutor Christoph Rodler accused Gribkowsky of “immense criminal energy”. But the banker’s defence team argued Gribkowsky had been seduced by Ecclestone.

The entire case severely implicated Ecclestone, who is also being investigated by German prosecutors. In his trial testimony, Ecclestone claimed the banker had blackmailed him for the money – something rejected by Rodler on Tuesday.

Gribkowsky had “dropped his trousers” with his detailed confession last week, his lawyers said – in return for the court agreeing to limit any jail sentence to less than nine years.

“Today one would want to turn back time. Sadly that is not possible,” said Gribkowsky.

The court sentenced him to eight-and-a-half years.

 

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Schumacher could lose car if F1 boss corrupt

 

Corruption allegations against Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone could threaten the future of Michael Schumacher and his Mercedes race team, as majority owner Daimler has a strict policy of not dealing with crooks.

The Stuttgart-based auto maker “immediately investigates immoral or corrupt practices of staff or on the side of business partners,” a spokeswoman said on Tuesday.

As 60 percent owner of the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 team which has Schumacher and Nico Rosberg driving its cars, Daimler is currently very much in business with Formula 1 manager Ecclestone.

German prosecutors are investigating him on suspicion of bribery. Chief prosecutor Christoph Rodler told a court on Tuesday, “Ecclestone was not the victim of blackmail, rather a co-perpetrator in bribery.”

The prosecutor was speaking in the closing phase of a case against a banker accused of taking a $44 million bribe from Ecclestone to ensure his bank sold a major share in Formula 1 rights to Ecclestone’s favoured candidate.

The Handelsblatt newspaper noted on Tuesday that Daimler’s own operating rules could force it to consider withdrawing from the sport. Laurenz Schmitt from Linklaters law firm told the paper it was an “awkward” situation.

Sylvia Schenk, chairwoman of corruption watchdog Transparency International called for Daimler to take action.

The Daimler spokeswoman said, “We support the explanation of the new allegations in Formula 1. We are awaiting the analysis of the authorities.”

She said compliance was of central importance to Daimler.

Former risk manager at the Bayern Landesbank Gerhard Gribkowsky admitted taking the bribe after months of silence before the Munich court hearing the case. His admission seriously implicated Ecclestone.

This had resulted in around 40 witnesses being called, including Ecclestone. He then admitted paying Gribkowsky the money, but said it was a case of blackmail –that the banker had been threatening to give sensitive information to the British tax office.

But on Tuesday the prosecutor in the Gribkowsky case told the court, “Ecclestone was not the victim of blackmail, rather a co-perpetrator in bribery.”

Prosecutor Christoph Rodler said the allegations of bribery and tax evasion against Gribkowsky were proven. He had, “not received a consultant fee, rather bribery payments” from Ecclestone, he said.

The prosecutor is already investigating Ecclestone on suspicion of bribery.

 

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Ferrari star Alonso to win in Valencia 

Alonso on home triumph at Valencia championship leader

Ferrari superstar Fernando Alonso on Sunday won his home race in Valencia, thus taking the lead in the Formula 1 World Championship. The 30-year-old Spaniard won the eighth World Championship race of the season before the Finn Kimi Raikkonen in the Lotus and the German world champion Michael Schumacher in the Mercedes, which first went on the podium after his comeback.

 

The German double world champion Sebastian Vettel had the Grand Prix of Europe at the Red Bull until his Failure in the 34th lap listed due to a technical defect. Also, the current championship leader Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) dropped out after a collision with Williams driver Pastor Maldonado in the penultimate round.

Alonso is after 29 GP win of his career is now clearly ahead in the standings. His lead over the now second-placed Australian Mark Webber, who was in the second Red Bull in Valencia is fourth, 20 points.

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German banker:  

I took $44m Formula 1 bribe

 

A former top German bank manager has admitted taking $44 million from Formula 1 owner Bernie Ecclestone for selling the race business to the “right” bidder. He described his payment as a “giant mountain of money.”

The testimony will aid German investigations against Ecclestone, who is under investigation and may also face trial over the affair.

Gerhard Gribkowsky told Munich’s higher regional court on Wednesday that the charges against him were largely accurate – after eight months of silence. "I closed my eyes," he said.

In nearly two hours of testimony, he described how Ecclestone kept a firm grip on everything to do with Formula 1. “You don’t get anywhere if he doesn’t want it,” he said, describing him as obsessed with power and having no time for paperwork.

While on BayernLB's management board from 2003 to 2008, Gribkowsky oversaw the sale of a majority share of the Formula 1 business which had come into the bank’s possession as a result of the bankruptcy of the Kirch media group.

Gribkowsky was accused of accepting $44 million from Ecclestone to ensure the package was sold to British investor CVC. Gribkowsky oversaw the sale to CVC in 2006 – allegedly forcing it past the rest of the bank's management and making an unnecessary $66 million payment to Ecclestone.

The Formula 1supremo made a secret of his distaste for the bank as co-owner and had pressured him to sell, said Gribkowsky.

Gribkowsky claimed Ecclestone told him, “If you help me to sell Formula 1, I will employ you as a consultant.” Shortly afterwards he presented CVC as his preferred candidate.

Gribkowsky said Ecclestone had demanded $100 million in fees for arranging the sale – a sum the banker said he pushed down to $66 million but acknowledged was not necessary at all.

Ecclestone then offered him a position as consultant, asking what he wanted with the phrase, “’Tell me numbers’ that I know to this day,” said Gribkowsky.

He said he wanted $50 million, and although he was expecting to get just a fraction of it - “$10 million would be more normal,” he said – but he got nearly the full amount.

Gribkowsky said he used the money to set up a children’s cancer charity in Austria, saying he had experienced what families go through when his son became ill. “I will save us all the details,” he told the court.

The prosecutors saw this movement of money as tax evasion, which he accepted.

His statement to the court came after talks between his lawyers, the prosecutors and the court. Judge Peter Noll said afterwards that the parties had not reached an agreement – but Gribkowsky spoke in court afterwards anyway, saying the charges were largely correct.

He is likely to be jailed for between seven years and 10 months and nine years.

His refusal to speak at the trial until now forced the court to hear more than 40 witnesses – including Ecclestone, who described the payment as hush money to stop him from talking to the British tax authorities. He said Gribkowsky had blackmailed him into paying the money.

Ecclestone is still being investigated by the German authorities.

 

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Scuderia Ferrari Racing News

The F1 circus is leaving the Old World again, this time for Canada. Fernando Alonso talks about his expectations for the seventh race of the Championship and the upcoming European Football Championship
Martin Brundle, ex-Formula 1 driver and one of the main experts of the sport, shares his experiences with us after a test session in a Ferrari F10 in the Fiorano track. There's also some space for the Scuderia Ferrari technicians' explanations.

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F1 turned down multi-billion dollar IPO

 

Ecclestone is waiting for better times

Formula 1 comes in its multi-billion dollar IPO in Singapore on the brakes. Company boss Bernie Ecclestone on Friday postponed the debut and justified the move with the weak market environment. The race organizers will now wait until times are better for going onto the dance floor.

Ecclestone insisted the three-billion-dollar business (EUR 2.4 billion) was not canceled: "We have said that it takes place this year, so it will take place this year." Formula 1 ready for anything "you always want to go when we walk, we" listing before and said the 81-year-old.

Cancellations have increased

The cancellation of IPOs have recently heaped around the world. The debt crisis in Europe, because of worries of slower growth in China and the botched launch Facebook make the aspirants careful. This week alone, five companies have shifted their emissions in Asia - including the London jeweler Graff. The external conditions have created a "crisis of confidence," said analyst Scott Sweet of IPO Boutique. He also expressed confidence that the companies held fast to their plans and to "ambush position" remained.

Experts believe that by Ecclestone said time window is realistic. Should China relax its monetary policy and find Europe a solution to the debt crisis is likely that the sports series that is followed worldwide by more than half a billion TV viewers, this year goes to the stock market, they said. Originally, the Formula 1 management circles that in the coming week to submit the prospectus to the competent supervision in Singapore.

On Thursday the London jeweler Graff has canceled its IPO in Hong Kong because of poor market conditions. Also pushed to the backburner, the London IPO of Georgia's state railway and the Russian real estate investor 01 After the botched debut of the world's largest social network Facebook Inc. Corsair Tria Beauty and suspended their plans to the first nail. The Malaysian state oil company Felda Palm keeps admit, though, on 28 To dare to jump in June. Also, the state insurer People's Insurance Company of China (PICC) is not known that he was abandoning his plans.

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Sauber F1 Team - World Premiere: Cutaway F1 Race Car 

 

For the last two years the Sauber F1 Team mechanics have been using their downtime to slice a Formula One racing car lengthwise down the middle with the precision of true craftsmen. Chief Designer Matt Morris quite literally gets underneath the skin of the F1 car, pointing out where and how the individual components are located within the chassis. Everything is packed in pretty tightly. Sergio Pérez is also on hand to demonstrate the driver's seating position.

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Webber's triumph in Monaco - Vettel fourth

 

The Australian Mark Webber won the Formula 1 -GP of Monaco in a Mercedes in front of Nico Rosberg and Fernando Alonso in a Ferrari and his team-mate Sebastian Vettel. He caused quite a record. Never in the 63-year history of Formula 1, it has been in the first six races, six different winners.

Two years after he had given the Austro-British team of the first Monaco victory, Webber veered to the right at the end to dry road course his second victory in the Principality. "I did worry, especially the weather. Two wins in Monaco are of course fantastic, "said the Australian after he had received the usual congratulations and cup from the hand of Prince Albert.

Only a possible protest threatened the GP win for Red Bull, the RB8 allegedly unauthorized opening in the floor, the team denies this though. In the constructors' championship, the "Austrians" so clearly in front.

Webber put down a virtually flawless race on the track and defended his lead from first to last meters. Although the top six most of the time were just six seconds, but also as a finish in the long-awaited rain started, kept the Australians experienced the nerves. He drove in the most important race of the year confidently - albeit only 0.643 seconds and 6.195 in front of Rosberg sixth-placed Felipe Massa in a Ferrari before - his eighth Grand Prix victory.

Overall, the 70th GP support in the Principality still one of the rather uneventful affair. Despite DRS, there were virtually no overtaking on the track. Up to the start (not to mention investigations were pending), "scrapped" in which the "been pinched" Lotus of the Frenchman Romain Grosjean was the only pit stop and the top riders did not too much. Even the rain came too late, until after the checkered flag, it poured out of the sky.

Vettel lost his championship lead to Alonso, even though he messed up well against the same qualifying five places and was directly behind the Spaniard was fourth. The world champion from Germany has emerged as one of the top riders in the race with the harder tire, moved to the 46th Round as the last and made to two other positions well.

Vettel had already won three at the start. The hope of driving out as a temporary Leading enough of a lead to his own pit stop after his front left, but not on. Fernando Alonso leads before coming Canadian Grand Prix with 76 points, three points ahead of Vettel and Webber (73).

Final standings after 78 laps (260.520 km):
1.	Mark Webber	OFF	Red Bull	1:46:06,557
2.	Nico Rosberg	ENG	Mercedes	+ 0,643
3.	Fernando Alonso	ESP	Ferrari	0,947
4.	Sebastian Vettel	ENG	Red Bull	1,343
5.	Lewis Hamilton	GBR	McLaren	4,101
6.	Felipe Massa	BRA	Ferrari	6,195
7.	Paul di Resta	GBR	Force India	41,537
8.	Nico Hulkenberg	ENG	Force India	42,562
9.	Kimi Raikkonen	FIN	Lotus	44,036
10.	Bruno Senna	BRA	Williams	44,516
11.	Sergio Perez	MEX	Clean	1 lap
12.	Jean-Eric Vergne	FRA	Toro Rosso	1 lap
13.	Heikki Kovalainen	FIN	Caterham	1 lap
14.	Timo Glock	ENG	Marussia	1 lap
15.	Narain Karthikeyan	IND	HRT	2 rounds
16.	Jenson Button	GBR	McLaren	8 rounds

Out: Michael Schumacher (GER / Mercedes), Romain Grosjean (FRA / Lotus), Pastor Maldonado (VEN / Williams), Kamui Kobayashi (JPN / Sauber), Daniel Ricciardo (AUS / Toro Rosso), Vitaly Petrov (RUS / Caterham) Charles Pic (FRA / Marussia), Pedro de la Rosa (ESP / HRT)

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Best time for Schumacher at Monaco, but Webber on pole

 

Michael Schumacher in qualifying for the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Monaco surprised with the best time, will start from pole position on Sunday, but the Australian Mark Webber in Red Bull

The German record champion has indeed returned to the starting line-up five places, so is his team mate Nico Rosberg Mercedes front row alongside Webber. World champion Sebastian Vettel drives in the second Red Bull go only from the fifth row.

Vettel: "The car bounces around 

like a rabbit"

Last year's winner was therefore angry, because the performance of his first competitive RB8 changed quite negative after strong free practice in qualifying. "The car bounces around like a rabbit," the 24-year-old championship leader radioed again to the box. In the end, was abandoned even to the Germans on pole-hunting means to schicken.Platz ten in qualifying for Vettel expected to start in ninth place, because Barcelona winner Pastor Maldonado equal to ten places back needs. "There's always hope. But of course I smell it now, because we had actually thought it fit, "said the hag backwards.

The chances that the Austro-British Red Bull team won for the third consecutive year the prestigious Grand Prix win of the year are given anyway. Webber "inherited" the best starting position, because Schumacher had crashed in Spain last into the back of Bruno Senna and is punished in Monaco.

"Furthermore, he is angry now doubly sure," was the world champion Niki Lauda believes, but moved ahead of Schumacher and the cap. "A clearer signs of life as may best time in Monaco does not give you," praised the three-time champion from Austria.

"If Vettel changes manure into the negative"

Red Bull one was happy after the Webber-Pole, of course. "We knew this morning that we have a competitive car. Unfortunately for Vettel, the change has gone into negative territory. I still see chances for a podium for both cars, "was the motorsport advisor Helmut Marko in front of the 70th Edition of the Monaco Grand Prix with confidence.

Should be "We have seen once again that we are currently adjusting to a relatively perfect car is not too much: the Graz also admitted. This can easily backfire. Clear that Sebastian does not like. "

The two RB8 are therefore in the race with different strategies going on sent. "When the tire wear is similar to previously may rise, this poker," Marko hopes. The hope is, of course, victory Webber, who had seen here in 2010 for the first Red Bull victory.

"It was a fantastic lap of him," praised Marko. "Pole here is already more than half the battle. If you do not forward error, you are not overtaking almost. "

Lauda: "I hope it wins one whom you know"

Webber would also fit reasonably well in the "winning profile", which is expected by Sunday triumph Lauda. "I hope it wins one, whom you know," repeated his criticism of the Austrian situation, that there have been five previous races in five different winners.

"The theater, with drivers, whose names are equal again forgets or does not even notice, should have an end," said Lauda. "There must be a win, we all know," the 63-year-old called again.

Maldonado crashes in training - Perez "kissed" guardrail

At least two of these "undesirable" Lauda candidates took themselves out of the game on Saturday. The ninth-placed Barcelona sensational winner Pastor Maldonado drove in the morning with his Williams to clean the Mexican Sergio Perez to the rear and must therefore start on Sunday to equal ten places further back. Perez even "kissed" the same quality in the first section of the guard rails, dropped out and started last.

Hottest secret favorite is to continue to Romain Grosjean. The Frenchman living in Geneva with his Lotus is fourth from the second row in the race. The 26-year-old was shown previously in Monaco significantly stronger than his illustrious team-mate Kimi Raikkonen. Surprisingly, early retired in 13th Ex-world champion Jenson Button and McLaren from.

Qualifying Results Monaco:

Final qualifying for the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Monaco 

First Michael Schumacher (GER) Mercedes 1:14,301 min*

Second Mark Webber (AUS) Red Bull 1:14,381

Third Nico Rosberg (GER) Mercedes 1:14,448

4th Lewis Hamilton (GBR) McLaren 1:14,583

5th Romain Grosjean (FRA) Lotus 1:14,639

6th Fernando Alonso (ESP) Ferrari 1:14,948

7th Felipe Massa (BRA) Ferrari 1:15,049

8th Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Lotus 1:15,199

9th Pastor Maldonado (VEN) Williams 1:15,245**

10th Sebastian Vettel (GER) Red Bull, in no time Q3

11th Nico Hulkenberg (GER) Force India 1:15,421

12th Kamui Kobayashi (JPN) Sauber 1:15,508

13th Jenson Button (GBR) McLaren 1:15,536

14th Bruno Senna (BRA) Williams 1:15,709

15th Paul di Resta (GBR) Force India 1:15,718

16th Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) Toro Rosso 1:15,878

17th Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA) Toro Rosso 1:16,885 (Q2)

18th Heikki Kovalainen (FIN) Caterham 1:16,538

19th Vitaly Petrov (RUS) Caterham 1:17,404

20th Timo Glock (GER) Marussia 1:17,947

21st Pedro de la Rosa (ESP) HRT 1:18,096

22nd Charles Pic (FRA) Marussia 1:18,476

23rd Narain Karthikeyan (IND) HRT 1:19,310

24th Sergio Perez (MEX) Clean, no accidents in the after period Q1

* = Schumacher is set back five places on the grid
= ** Maldonado is set back ten places on the grid 

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Sensational victory of the Venezuelan Maldonado in Spain GP

The final Formula 1 plays crazy. The Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado was sensational on Sunday won his first Grand Prix. The Williams driver won in Spain ahead of local hero Fernando Alonso in a Ferrari and Kimi Raikkonen in the Lotus returnees.

Alonso finished in the standings after points leader to Sebastian Vettel, who is in the Red Bull after a drive-through sixth different winner in the fifth rettete.Maldonado fifth race of the season, it has been recently 1983rd The pole position was the 27-year-old on the eve inherited by a punishment of McLaren star Lewis Hamilton, who is up from last place to eighth vorarbeitete - immediately in front of his team-mate Jenson Button. In the Third World as Hamilton missing eight points on the leading duo Vettel and Alonso.

Williams first win since 2004

The sensation, however, played entirely on the front, where the resurgent Alonso Maldonado kept in check. "It's a wonderful day. Not only for me but for the whole team, "said the Venezuelan. For Williams it was his first win since Juan Pablo Montoya in Brazil in October 2004. Since 2008, the team tradition, where the Austrian Christian 'Toto' Wolff is involved, not on the podium.

"We're back, I would say," said Wolff. "But we decry it. I would be happy if we can continue to compete. "Last year, Williams was brought in as ninth in the constructors' world championship in the season just five points. Maldonado also had five points after 23 races in the premier class to date on the credit side - a sum which he six times at the Circuit de Catalunya.

Alonso happy with second place

Alonso Maldonado had indeed overtaken at the start, the Venezuelans are pressed at the second pit stop but come back. A former tire changes had paid off. "It was tough, but the car was competitive from the start," said Maldonado, whose previous best placing was in eighth place in China. Alonso was also satisfied with second place. "The World Cup is for us an important step forward," said the Spaniard.

Raikkonen ended up behind the Lotus team mate Romain Grosjean, with over a minute behind followed Kamui Kobayashi in the Sauber, Vettel and Nico Rosberg in the Mercedes. Vettel was punished for disobeying a Yellow Flag, more than fifth place but it had not already passed. "They were ahead faster," Vettel admitted, with a remarkable comeback in the finishing operation, at least limit the damage. "That was fun." Team-mate Mark Webber was in eleventh place with no points.

Red Bull weakened

For Red Bull, it was not only the weakest result of the season, but even the weakest performance since a double retirement in October 2010 in South Korea. In the constructors' championship, the Austro-British world champion team leads but still eleven points ahead of McLaren. "Right now, everything is top in F1," said Red Bull's motorsport director Helmut Marko. This is due to the difficult-to-understand Pirelli tires. Marko: "We must brace ourselves for surprises this season of any kind." Maldonado was just the beginning.

Final of the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Spain

 First Pastor Maldonado (VEN) 01:39:09,145 Williams

 Second Fernando Alonso (ESP) Ferrari +03.195

 Third Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Lotus +03.884

 4th Romain Grosjean (FRA) Lotus +14.799

 5th Kamui Kobayashi (JPN) Sauber +01:04,641

 6th Sebastian Vettel (GER) Red Bull +01:07,576

 7th Nico Rosberg (GER) Mercedes +01:17,919

 8th Lewis Hamilton (GBR) McLaren +01:18,140

 9th Jenson Button (GBR) McLaren +01:25,246

10th Nico Hulkenberg (GER) Force India +1 lap

11th Mark Webber (AUS) Red Bull +1 lap

12th Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA) Toro Rosso +1 lap

13th Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) Toro Rosso +1 lap

14th Paul di Resta (GBR) Force India +1 lap

15th Felipe Massa (BRA) Ferrari +1 lap

16th Heikki Kovalainen (FIN) Caterham +1 lap

17th Vitaly Petrov (RUS) Caterham +1 lap

18th Timo Glock (GER) Marussia +2 rounds

19th Pedro de la Rosa (ESP) HRT +3 laps

Eliminated: Narain Karthikeyan (IND) HRT, Sergio Perez (MEX) Sauber, Charles Pic (FRA) Marussia, Michael Schumacher (GER) Mercedes, Bruno Senna (BRA) Williams

Fastest lap: Romain Grosjean (FRA) Lotus 01:26,250, average: 194.300 km / h

Standings

 First Sebastian Vettel (GER) Red Bull 61

 Second Fernando Alonso (ESP) Ferrari 61

 Third Lewis Hamilton (GBR) McLaren 53

 4th Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Lotus 49

 5th Mark Webber (AUS) Red Bull 48

 6th Jenson Button (GBR) McLaren 45

 7th Nico Rosberg (GER) Mercedes 41

 8th Romain Grosjean (FRA) Lotus 35

 9th Pastor Maldonado (VEN) Williams 29

10th Sergio Perez (MEX) Sauber 22

11th Kamui Kobayashi (JPN) Sauber 19

12th Paul di Resta (GBR) Force India 15

13th Bruno Senna (BRA) Williams 14

14th Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA) Toro Rosso 4

15th Nico Hulkenberg (GER) Force India 3

16th Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) Toro Rosso 2

17th Felipe Massa (BRA) Ferrari 2

18th Michael Schumacher (GER) Mercedes 2

Constructors

First Red Bull 109

Second McLaren 98

Third Lotus 84

4th Ferrari 63

5th Mercedes 43

6th Williams 43

7th Clean 41

8th Force India 18

9th Toro Rosso 6

Next race: GP of Monaco on 27 May (Pentecost Sunday) in Monte Carlo.

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Grand Prix horror: The moment 16 were injured when fire broke out in victorious Williams team's garage after Spanish race

 

 Maldonado also had to play hero, giving his cousin Manuel - whose right leg was in a cast - a piggy back away from the flames

The Spanish Grand Prix was thrown into chaos last night when 16 people were injured in a team garage blaze.

Flames took over the Williams pit stand just moments after Venezuelan driver Pastor Maldonado had taken the Barcelona title - in doing so scooping the first grand prix win for the British-based team in eight years.

One Williams employee was airlifted to Barcelona hospital with serious burn wounds while five others were taken to local hospital for smoke inhalation.

A further ten people were treated at the Catalunya Circuit for smoke inhalation before being released.

The fire is thought to have been caused by an electrical fault with Maldonado's teammate Bruno Senna's car, which was in the garage having crashed earlier in the race.

Flames spread quickly through the garage, sending thick plumes of black smoke out onto the circuit. Williams' wheelchair-bound founder Sir Frank Williams - celebrating his 70th birthday - had to be lifted to safety shortly after giving his victory speech.

Maldonado also had to play hero, giving his cousin Manuel - whose right leg was in a cast - a piggy back away from the flames.

Mechanics and circuit firefighters were quickly on the scene to put out the fire with an ambulance on the scene treating one person for what appeared to be smoke inhalation.

A Williams team statement reads: '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.'

F1 team Caterham said in a statement that four team employees were among those taken to the Catalunya Circuit medical center to be examined, one with a minor hand injury and three with respiratory issues.

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Bahrain Grand Prix 2012: city burns but Bernie Ecclestone insists the show must go on

 

Hot spot: a Bahraini protester holds a Molotov cocktail 

during clashes with riot police in Manama on Friday

Formula One has always been about gambling; with drivers’ lives, with money, with other people’s money. Its unique mix of business, politics, engineering and breathtaking skill and bravery behind the wheel mean the stakes are always high.

Rarely, though, can it have found itself on the horns of a dilemma such as it encounters now, at the centre of a complex row over human rights, money, politics, even international diplomacy.

The decision to push ahead with Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix in spite of ongoing civil unrest was always a big gamble. Now it has turned into a potentially ruinous one.

With Force India skipping second practice on Friday — they were worried about returning to their hotel in the dark — after a firebomb incident on Wednesday night, and Sauber admitting that a bus-load of their mechanics were approached by masked men brandishing Molotov cocktails the following night, everyone out here is jittery.

An estimated 10,000 people swarmed the highway north of the circuit on Friday to protest against the ruling Sunni regime, with rioting expected to break out across the city as it has most nights this week.

Every day the protesters become more encouraged by the international attention they are garnering, with news reporters being denied visas as they scrabble to get in on the action.

Web hackers Anonymous on Friday night took over Formula One’s official website to “fight for freedom and justice in Bahrain”.

The situation has become so febrile that belatedly, some might say opportunistically, Ed Miliband, the leader of the Opposition, called on Friday on the Government to put pressure on Formula One to cancel the race at the 11th hour.

David Cameron responded by saying that it was a decision for the sport. “Bahrain is not Syria,” the Prime Minister noted. “There is a process of reform on its way and this government backs that reform and wants to help promote that reform.”

It was another example of how this race has become hopelessly politicised. There is a feeling in Bahrain that Formula One has become a tool of government – both ours and theirs – to help a key ally in a volatile region on the path to reform.

It may be a noble cause but not what many of the sport’s travelling army, the engineers, the media, the catering staff, signed up for. Or their families. The wife of one of those engineers was practically in tears on a Radio 2 discussion on Friday.

But the sport presses on. It has to. To cancel now, as Bahrain’s Crown Prince said on Friday, “would simply empower extremists”. What kind of message would that be four months before London hosts the biggest sporting show on Earth?

The fact is the sport should not have come here in the first place.

That much is clear now. We received mixed messages beforehand, the authorities claiming that such rioting as there was confined to outlying villages and districts, with Manama a haven of calm. And for the most part it is. But successive nights have seen teams caught in the crossfire and the situation is escalating. Formula One is helping it to escalate.

Bernie Ecclestone, the sport’s chief executive, and Jean Todt, the president of the governing body, have a lot on the line. Ecclestone, in particular, after 81 years of scrapping his way to a fortune, is used to tough questions but should things go wrong very tough questions will be asked. To what extent did commercial and political interests cloud their judgment?

It is why everyone tried so hard to pass the buck last week, with Ecclestone saying it was up to the teams, the teams saying it was up to the FIA and the FIA saying nothing at all.

Ultimately, however, those two carry the responsibility for Formula One being here. Sure, the teams and drivers and sponsors could have boycotted the race but they, too, rely to a certain extent on the information they receive from above.

Ecclestone was his usual flippant self when asked for his thoughts on events this week. “It’s a lot of nonsense,” he said. “I think you guys want a story, and it’s a good story, and if there isn’t a story you make it up as usual, so what difference?”

It was the same in China last weekend when he was asked about the protests. “What protests?” he countered.

Such comments do both him and the sport no credit, making him sound insensitive to the very real concerns which people out here are literally dying to draw attention to.

The sad thing is this crisis was entirely predictable. Formula One journalists have copped a certain amount of criticism this week for venturing into areas of conflict to ask for people’s thoughts about the race, to try to report on what is happening. For deigning to be reporters, in other words.

What did the Bahraini and Formula One authorities think? That they would sit in their hotels all week, only venturing to the track to talk about rear wings and F-ducts?

The best possible outcome will see everyone - Formula One staff, Bahrainis, ex-pats, everyone caught up in this - emerge through the weekend unscathed.

The worst case scenario? It doesn’t bear thinking about. But it could mean Todt and Ecclestone are gored on the horns of a dilemma of their own making. 

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