Maldonado-Cassidy Duel Entertains Spanish Crowd

Qualifying:

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* 10-place grid penalty for engine/gearbox change

Report:

As Germany celebrates its new world champion, F1 action continues regardless of that. However, since Caterham-Judd have not secured the World Constructors Championship just yet, the green team has not dropped its guard: Sebastian Vettel managed to take the lead at the start and held on from that to win his 14th race of this F1 season and the 41st of his career.

To do that, Vettel needed to get the jump on the man who started this race in first: Pastor Maldonado. The Venezuelan once more delivered for Sauber in Q3, taking advantage of other drivers’s success ballast to take his third pole position of this season. As mentioned before, the Caterhams managed to defeat him off the line, meaning his chances of a win always were theoretical at best.

After the first round of stops, another fiend threatened to ruin Sauber’s day: Dave Cassidy’s race engineer got the better of the Venezuelan and managed to flush out Cassidy right ahead of him. After that it was all down to Cassidy to keep that position and like the race winner that he actually is, he was able to stay ahead of Pastor, despite suffering heavy attacks by the #7 Sauber.

This was a thrilling fight, even if an unusual mistake by the experienced Bourdais and a late-race engine problem for Kvyat meant that both drivers would be on the podium. Behind them, Jules Bianchi closed out a good weekend with 4th place, both Haas managed to get into the points despite a grid penalty for Cecotto. Grosjean and Pagenaud both scored points again, that will help their chances of staying in F1.

Race:

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Fastest Lap:

Sébastien Bourdais – 1:12.823

Infinite Improbability Drive Of The Race:

Dave Cassidy – Is he finally a top driver again?

Reject Of The Race:

Sébastien Bourdais – Silly error costs Ferrari and prevents Bourdais from getting closer to second in the championship.