Hamilton Disqualified – Maldonado inherits Pole Position

Four races and no penalties for Hamilton, the year had been going well for Lewis, plenty of good solid points finishes leave him currently only 2nd to Vettel in the championship.   Better still, earlier today he had a stellar qualifying session to leave him in pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix – with the pole sitter usually going on to win the race around the Catalunya circuit, he was in good shape to grab his first win of the 2012 season.

The only snag is that after his super-quick lap, he was told to stop the car out on track, which he duly did.  The rules state that all cars must return to the parc ferme after qualifying – the rule’s there so that the FIA can ensure legality of the cars and what not.  The only acceptable circumstances are where the car is technically unable to make it back to the pits under its own power.  Whatever the situation, the car must have enough fuel left in it to make it back to the pits and also the litre sample remaining too, required for checking the fuel compound.

Hamilton’s car was found to not have enough fuel left in it – this rule was put in place to stop teams running cars too light to give them more speed, but meaning they have to stop out on track – a huge nightmare for Lewis who now, throughout no fault of his own has to start from the back of the grid for the Grand Prix.

Maldonado is of course chuffed to hear he’s inherited pole position, with some calling it a belated birthday gift for his team’s owner, Sir Frank Williams (he turned 70 last month) –  Tomorrow’s grand prix just got a little more exciting…

Revised Grid for the Grand Prix