Pastor Maldonado holds off Alonso to clinch maiden victory in Spain

Formula One while growing up was all about team domination. I witnessed Michael Schumacher's glorious days and listened to wonderful V10's.After two years of Fernando Alonso and his Renault winning the championship's, Schumacher decided to call it quits, and many though that would be good for the monotonous sport. Oddly, post-Schumacher Formula One wasn’t any different.

In 2007 Ferrari won both the drivers and constructor’s championships again with Kimi Raikkonen followed by Lewis Hamilton of McLaren in 2008 and his current team mate Jenson Button with Brawn GP (Current Mercedes AMG Petronas) in 2009. The last two years have been about Sebastian Vettel with Austrian sports beverage company Red Bull.

The 2012 season of formula one however, is becoming totally unpredictable, thanks to the Pirelli tires, pit stop strategies, DRS, KERS, and a ban on blown-diffusers among other changes. During the past five GP’s we have seen five different winners, of which two were podium virgins. This is the only the second time in the long history of the sport, this has happened. The other occasion was back in 1983.

Just yesterday, Pastor Maldonado ended Williams' long wait for a Formula One victory by claiming the chequered flag during the Spanish Grand Prix. Williams is considered one of the "Big Four" teams in Formula One partly due to winning nine constructors' and drivers ‘championships between 1980 and 1997.

This was the team's first win since the 2004 Brazilian Grand Prix, 132 races ago. Maldonado became the first Venezuelan to savour the winner's champagne, finishing just 3.1 seconds ahead of local hero Fernando Alonso of Ferrari. Kimi Raikkonen in his Lotus completed the podium and could have finished higher only if he had more laps to compete in.

Defending champion Sebastian Vettel finished sixth with three pit-stops and a drive-through penalty for ignoring yellow flags during collision that involved Bruno Senna in the other Williams and Michael Schumacher’s Mercedes. Replay footages place the seven-time champion who might have misjudged Senna for braking early and eventually running into the back of the Brazilian, ending the race for both drivers.

Pole setter Lewis Hamilton of McLaren whom was stripped of his position, after stopping on track due to insufficient fuel during qualifying started last in the grid, the first in his four year plus career. Nonetheless he managed to utilise a wonderful two-stop strategy and finished eighth, ahead of team-mate Jenson Button who started at 10th.

A very happy Maldonado, commented, "It is a wonderful day, not only for me, but the team. Yesterday we had a great qualifying, and today it was a tough race, especially with the strategy because of the tyres. Fernando made a better start, but I followed the pace, the car was strong. This is my first podium, my first victory, so you can imagine what I feel.”

‘Iceman’ Raikkonen was not pleased with his third despite closing in on Alonso during the closing stages of the race. He admitted for being quick enough at the start and wrong tyre strategies used at the first pit stop. Nonetheless he is glad to have scored good points for the team.

As the five lights went off, Alonso made a superb start, with Maldonado trying his best to defend his position on the long straight to the first corner. Sauber's Sergio Perez whom started from fifth incurred a puncture through the first corners, forcing him into the pits at the end of the first lap for new rubber.

Initially Alonso held his position for around ten laps, although he could not get a clear lead off Maldonado. Maldonado, who pitted first after 25 laps, passed Alonso comfortably who waited another three laps. With a four-second lead Maldonado made his third stop after 41 laps, and again Alonso waited three laps, but could not get a move on Maldonado.

During the closing stages Raikkonen managed to catch up on Alonso but had to settle for third, 3.8secs down on Maldonado and just 0.7secs adrift of Alonso. The ‘Iceman’ is currently fourth in the drivers’ championships standings, 12 points behind Vettel and Alonso, and four behind Hamilton who performed well despite the disappointment of not grabbing McLaren's 150th pole win.

After the heart pumping Spanish Grand Prix, Vettel is tied with Alonso at 61 points, with Hamilton eight points down for the drivers’ championships.