Potential tragedy emerged in the wake of Pastor Maldonado’s (Williams) first Formula 1 victory at the Spanish Grand Prix, with news of an explosion and fire at the Williams garage. Initial reports indicate the fire started in a fuel rig at the back of the garage. One observer reported that Senna’s car was completely destroyed and the garage gutted. Reports indicated a total of 31 people received medical attention, with 7 going to the hospital, and one Williams mechanic being treated ...

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Four races, four winners, four constructors. That’s the 2012 Formula 1 season heading in the Spanish Grand Prix. And though lots of hand-wringing is starting to emerge regarding whether tires and their management are playing too large a role in making the field as competitive as it is, there can be little doubt that a year like this is more exciting than a beginning-to-end championship run by a single car. You don’t hear the NFL or NASCAR, perhaps the two most successful spectator sp...

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Race 3 of the 2012 Formula 1 season brings the series to Shanghai for the Grand Prix of China. Even before the race itself, drama was running high. Nico Rosberg drove to his first pole in 111 races and in the process gave Mercedes its first since Juan Manuel Fangio at Monza in 1955. At the same time, defending champion Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) failed to make into Q3 for the first time since 2009, taking 11th on the grid and being out-qualified by teammate Mark Webber for the third time this s...

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RUSSIAN GREEN: Caterham confirmed Vitaly Petrov as its second driver for 2012, joining Heikki Kovalainen and replacing Jarno Trulli. Petrov’s debut in Caterham’s CT01 will take place at the second pre-season test Feb. 21-24 at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya. Trulli’s departure leaves Formula 1 without an Italian driver for the first time since the 1960s. The switch to Petrov was ascribed largely the greater sponsorship he could bring to the team. BRAWNY MERC: Mercedes&...

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KIMI’S RETURN--Kimi Raikkonen returns to Formula 1 in 2012 after a two year absence, driving for Team Lotus (last year’s Renault). He’s met with engineers, had his seat fitted, and will be testing with the team in Spain next month. Raikkonen will be joined on Team Lotus by Romain Grosjean. The first round of winter testing is Feb. 7-9.   BRUNO WILLIAMS--Bruno Senna, who drove for Renault last year, is rumored to be joining Williams for 2012, to drive alongside Pastor Mal...

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