Bianchi Makes Crucial Error, Sauber and Maldonado Win

Qualifying:

Pos	#	Driver	Constructor	Time
1	63	Diego Álvarez Torrente		1:30.029
2	62	Jules Bianchi		1:30.105
3	29	Pastor Maldonado		1:30.190
4	30	Dean Stoneman		1:30.314
5	2	Lewis Hamilton		1:30.642
6	1	Sebastian Vettel		1:30.645
7	34	Valtteri Bottas		1:30.906
8	33	Einar Ármannsson		1:31.246
9	27	Dave Cassidy		1:31.459
10	24	Kevin Magnussen		1:31.577
11	28	Daniel Melrose		1:32.159
12	66	Pascal Wehrlein		1:32.162
13	23	Pierre Gasly		1:32.203
14	22	Jordan Davies		1:32.240
15	21	J. R. Hildebrand		1:32.407
16	118	Carlos Sainz Jr		1:32.516
17	119	Felix Rosenqvist		1:32.652
18	55	Artem Markelov		1:32.952
19	67	Mike Rockenfeller		1:33.043
20	5	Marvin Kirchhöfer		1:33.089
21	90	Daniel Ricciardo		1:33.097
22	91	Max Verstappen		1:33.113
23	6	Santiago Urrutia		1:33.226
24	56	Sergey Sirotkin		1:33.454

Report:

F1 was rocked by the controversial withdrawal of Holden, leaving the grid with 24 cars for the first time since the 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. However, Dawson and Calinetic both proved their eagerness to compete by quickly arranging for different engines with the help of new FOM chairman Lunardi.

Their new engines did not really hinder them from being competitive by their standards, a very impressive feat of engineering that cannot possibly be praised enough. Both Calinetic and Dawson got a top 20 finish.

At the front, the race looked like it was Jules Bianchi’s to lose. Lose it, he did: an unprovoked error on his way to the first pitstop saw him hit the barrier and cause irreparable damage to his rear right suspension, an error that could very well spell doom to any hopes he had of becoming world champion.

Pastor Maldonado inherited the lead and kept his cool despite a late charge by the other Precision driver, taking his 9th win of this year’s Formula One season. This means he returns to the championship lead as well.

Race:

Pos	#	Driver	Constructor	Time/Retired	Points
1	29	Pastor Maldonado		46:25.735	15
2	63	Diego Álvarez Torrente		+2.772	12
3	30	Dean Stoneman		+7.609	10
4	2	Lewis Hamilton		+12.600	8
5	1	Sebastian Vettel		+21.264	6
6	34	Valtteri Bottas		+22.337	5
7	33	Einar Ármannsson		+30.574	4
8	27	Dave Cassidy		+37.647	3
9	28	Daniel Melrose		+39.598	2
10	66	Pascal Wehrlein		+57.074	1
11	24	Kevin Magnussen		+59.027	0
12	22	Jordan Davies		+65.486	0
13	23	Pierre Gasly		+65.932	0
14	21	J. R. Hildebrand		+72.770	0
15	55	Artem Markelov		+82.648	0
16	67	Mike Rockenfeller		+87.230	0
17	5	Marvin Kirchhöfer		+90.606	0
18	90	Daniel Ricciardo		+92.362	0
19	118	Carlos Sainz Jr		1 Lap	0
20	56	Sergey Sirotkin		1 Lap	0
21	6	Santiago Urrutia		Transmission	0
DNF	119	Felix Rosenqvist		Accident	0
DNF	62	Jules Bianchi		Accident	0
DNF	91	Max Verstappen		Collision	0

Fastest Lap:

Diego Álvarez Torrente – 1:31.189

Infinite Improbability Drive Of The Race:

Pascal Wehrlein – this point could very well have decided the battle of Red Bull against Mansell.

Reject Of The Race:

Jules Bianchi – he had the race won and decided to throw it all away.