Maldonado Takes Home Victory in Changing Weather

Qualifying:

Pos	#	Driver	Constructor	Q1	Q2	Diff.
1	57	Dean Stoneman		1:02.289	1:02.490
2	94	Pascal Wehrlein		1:02.704	1:02.806	+0.415
3	1	Artem Markelov		1:04.080	1:03.966	+1.677
4	37	Victoria Desai		1:04.264	1:04.164	+1.875
5	70	Pastor Maldonado		1:04.588	1:04.285	+1.996
6	29	Roger Ibe		1:04.650	1:04.312	+2.023
7	26	Robert Shwartzman		1:04.618	1:04.483	+2.194
8	47	Lando Norris		1:04.559	1:04.739	+2.270
9	55	Carlos Sainz, Jr.		1:04.841	1:04.713	+2.424
10	77	Valtteri Bottas		1:04.718	1:04.937	+2.429
11	33	Max Verstappen		1:05.006	1:04.760	+2.471
12	18	Sebastian Vettel		1:04.832	1:04.795	+2.506
13	4	Robin Frijns		1:05.184	1:04.832	+2.543
14	39	Sho Tsuboi		1:04.879	1:04.920	+2.590
15	23	Alexander Albon		1:05.111	1:05.957	+2.668
16	20	Kevin Magnussen		1:05.835	1:05.317	+3.026
17	11	Terry Hawkin		1:05.904	1:05.828	+3.539
18	23	Jules Bianchi		1:06.424	1:07.008	+4.135
19	31	Esteban Ocon		1:06.904	1:06.512	+4.223
20	95	Beitske Visser		1:06.771	1:06.660	+4.371
21	56	Einar Ármannsson		1:06.942	1:06.838	+4.459
22	46	Alessandro Cicognani		1:07.417	1:07.386	+5.097
23	7	Charles Leclerc		1:08.100	1:08.017	+5.728
24	84	Jack Aitken		1:08.180	1:08.113	+5.844

Report:

There are very few things more beautiful to a brash star of sports like seeing your trash talk backed up immediately. Williams team boss Jacques Villeneuve was gifted this joy by his driver Pastor Maldonado taking victory in the inaugural Venezuelan Grand Prix.

His world champion-level experience and talent was on full display. Rain started to fall early in the Grand Prix, forcing teams into multiple pitstops as it worsened. A number of drivers even had to pit three or four times because they damaged their cars.

Beyond the glory of Maldonado’s win, there were other happy drivers. Victoria Desai crept within six points of the championship lead with a third place, Artem Markelov returned from exile with a fourth place and Dean Stoneman turned pole into the best finish of 2022.

Caterham will not be happy with finishing 6-12, even if they still lead the constructor’s championship. Red Bull’s failure to score throws them well behind Williams Racing; BR Mansell overtakes Toyota to make the fight for fifth in the championship very close.

Race:

Pos	#	Driver	Constructor	Time/Retired	Points
1	70	Pastor Maldonado		58:48.213	15
2	26	Robert Shwartzman		+8.082	12
3	37	Victoria Desai		+8.509	10
4	1	Artem Markelov		+16.332	8
5	57	Dean Stoneman		+24.696	6
6	47	Lando Norris		+39.092	5
7	77	Valtteri Bottas		+55.575	4
8	23	Alexander Albon		+58.140	3
9	11	Terry Hawkin		+68.555	2
10	39	Sho Tsuboi		+73.175	1
11	33	Max Verstappen		+74.686
12	18	Sebastian Vettel		+74.802
13	20	Kevin Magnussen		1 Lap
14	23	Jules Bianchi		1 Lap
15	14	Esteban Ocon		1 Lap
16	46	Alessandro Cicognani		2 Laps
17	95	Beitske Visser		2 Laps
18	55	Carlos Sainz, Jr.		2 Laps
19	7	Charles Leclerc		2 Laps
20	85	Jack Aitken		2 Laps
DNF	29	Roger Ibe		Transmission
DNF	56	Einar Ármannsson		Transmission
DNF	4	Robin Frijns		Loose Wheel
DNF	94	Pascal Wehrlein		Suspension

Fastest Lap:

Victoria Desai – 1:06.229

Infinite Improbability Drive Of The Race:

Pastor Maldonado – an impressive comeback became the stuff of Formula One legend.

Reject Of The Race:

Kevin Magnussen – back-to-back races of low IQ driving.