Lewis Hamilton posted the quickest time in a dramatic qualifying session at the Spanish Grand Prix overnight. But more drama was to follow, with Hamilton now stripped of his pole position and forced to start from the back of the grid.
At the end of the session Hamilton’s McLaren ran out of fuel and the 2008 world champion pulled aside and got a lift back into pitlane. McLaren explained the mishap saying it was an unavoidable mistake, or force majeure.
However, the FIA confirmed their decision in statement, which reads in part: “A team member had put an insufficient quantity of fuel into the car, thereby resulting in the car having to be stopped on the circuit in order to be able to provide the required amount for sampling purposes.
“As the amount of fuel put into the car is under the complete control of the competitor, the stewards cannot accept this as a case of force majeure.
“The Stewards determine that this is a breach of Article 6.6.2 of the FIA Formula One Technical Regulations and the Competitor is accordingly excluded from the results of the Qualifying Session. The Competitor is however allowed to start the race from the back of the grid.”
Amazingly, the revised grid now sees Pastor Maldonado on pole position. It’s Williams’ first pole position since Nico Hulkenberg’s equally surprising pole at the 2010 Brazilian Grand Prix.
Alonso displayed improved fortunes for Ferrari by posting the third fastest lap and, with the updated starting order, will start from the front row. Expect him to zip past Maldonado and enjoy some clear track off the line for the first time this year.
The drama began early when Jenson Button (McLaren) and Mark Webber (Red Bull) failed to make the cut into the final qualifying period.
In the closing stages of Q3 Alonso claimed provisional pole (1:22.302), which lasted just a few seconds before Maldonado (1:22.285) continued a strong showing for Williams this weekend, narrowly eclipsing Alonso’s time. But both men and the entire field were blitzed by Hamilton’s time (1:21.707), almost half a second quicker than Maldonado.
An odd quirk of the original qualifying results was the finishing order of the first three men compared to their teammates: Hamilton (P1), Button (P11); Maldonado (P2), Senna (P18); Alonso (P3), Massa (P17). Similarly, Red Bull returned one of their poorest qualifying sessions for some time. Vettel could not manage a lap worthy of finishing and did not register a time in Q3. He will now start the race from P7, with Webber back in P11.
Daniel Ricciardo was just eclipsed by his Toro Rosso teammate Jean-Eric Vergne. They will line up on P14 and P15 respectively.
Rounding things out, Narain Karthikeyan was miles off the 107% qualifying time, but has been saved embarrassment courtesy of the stewards and will start with an impatient Lewis Hamilton beside him.
With thanks to the FIA we bring you the full transcript from the post-qualifying press conference after the break.
