The 2015 Formula One season initially got off to a low-key start with five cars being unable to start. But the following races have blown things out of proportions, with a myriad of surprises and theatrical scenes for viewers on the paddock as well as those at home. Hence, we’ve taken the liberty of putting up a list of the best show-stoppers from every Grand Prix thus far. Here we go!
Here’s a round-up of the top show-stoppers in every Grand Prix thus far:
1. CRASHTOR DOES IT AGAIN
If there was anyone who would excel in bumper cars, it would be this person. Known much for his unflattering moniker “Crashtor”, Pastor Maldonado doesn’t seem like he would be able to shrug off his title. The Venezuelan crashed his Lotus in just the second corner, during the opening lap of the season in Australia. Indeed, the countdown was reset in hasmaldonadocrashedtoday.com. Believe it or not, Maldonado almost did it again when he collided with Felipe Massa’s Williams in the Sakhir circuit.
To many of those who have witnessed the two and a half-year journey of Maldonado, you would have probably been accustomed to his hiccups by now. In total, he has failed to finish 16 of the 49 races he’s competed in, and has faced almost 20 penalties from stewards throughout his Formula One career, losing a massive amount of 68 grid spots thus far.
2. MALAYSIA, MALAYSIA
After a season’s drought of Grand Prix wins, Scuderia Ferrari manufactured a marvelous comeback at the Sepang circuit, with Vettel stealing the thunder. Despite Mercedes dominating the pre-race build-up; Hamilton was locked in pole position, Rosberg clocked the fastest lap, Sebastian Vettel proved himself worthy of another title as he breezed past chequered flags at the Sepang circuit by finishing first. Sandiwched between both the Mercedes’ drivers on the podium, Vettel was in utter joy. Not only did he manage to get into his dream team, he successfully proved his worth with a jaw-dropping victory. Excellent stuff from the German.
3. NOT SO FINE CHINA
The Chinese Grand Prix managed to trigger a sense of humour to the crowd. During the practice session, a claimed fan had run across the track, raising the concerns of the spectators. The local man, in possession of a grandstand ticket, initially scaled a 10-foot high catch that runs along the main straight opposite the pits. He darted over the starting grid with a Force India approaching in the background before jumping up the pit lane and entering the Ferrari garage, proclaiming his intentions of trying a car!
But there’s more. What’s worse than having to retire from a race? Retiring with only two laps left.
Max Verstappen, despite being in eight spot with merely two laps left in the race, was forced to retire and effectively pulled out the safety cars as well. The 18 year-old comically stopped in front of the main grandstand, and laughter echoed across the circuit as marshals struggled to squeeze the stranded car out through a gap on the pit wall. Eventually, the crew took off the front wing, allowing the car to be comfortably moved, though the race had resumed by then.
The post-race drama continued for Mercedes as Rosberg could not contain himself and laid comments about his teammate compromising his race by driving slowly. Hamilton took on the tabloids again as the media criticized his decision to spray champagne on a stewardess on the podium. The controversy was brought to an end after the stewardess expressed that she did not take it to heart.
4. ICEMAN TAKES ON THE DESERT
Just when everyone thought it was a battle between Hamilton, Rosberg and Vettel, Kimi Raikkonen thrived at the floodlit circuit in Bahrain to claim second, adding light to the absence of his podium spots for Ferrari. The Finn also clocked the fastest lap of the race, making his comeback as grand as ever.
With Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel proving people wrong, Ferrari fans are hoping to see a renaissance that will allow Ferrari to start dominating races again. At least the ecstatic Maurizio Arrivabene thinks so.
Photo credits: redbull.com
Other posts by Michelle Liew
