By Nigel Atkins and Byron Young
The Mirror
BARCELONA, Spain — Racing hero Pastor Maldonado rescued his young cousin from a pits blaze just minutes after becoming the first Venezuelan to win a Formula One Grand Prix.
The 27-year-old was in his Williams team’s garage with 12-year-old relative Manuel celebrating his historic victory when the fire broke out.
He grabbed the child, already in plaster with a broken leg, and hoisted him on to his back as flames and smoke poured through the garage and pit.
One mechanic was overcome by smoke and had to be dragged clear as the Williams celebrations at Spain’s Catalunya Circuit turned to horror.
A total of 31 casualties were treated for injuries, most suffering from smoke inhalation and minor burns, F1’s governing body the FIA said last night. They included four Williams mechanics and five from two other teams.
Three were flown by helicopter to a Barcelona hospital for treatment to burns and overnight observation. Brave staff used hoses and fire extinguishers to prevent the flames spreading to hundreds of gallons of fuel and cars worth millions of pounds.
Former Williams world champion Damon Hill said: “We don’t know what caused it but all of a sudden the whole place was full of black smoke. It was very worrying.”
Staff from the Oxfordshire team were posing with Frank Williams for a celebratory photo and were feet away when the garage was rocked by an explosion.
As the wheelchairbound boss was desperately pushed away down the pit lane by his nurse, the flames ripped through the garage.
Many of Sir Frank’s family were also at the race as part of celebrations for the owner’s 70th birthday last month.
Reserve driver Valtteri Bottas said: “I was there when Frank was giving his speech to everyone.
“I felt an explosion from behind, somewhere from the fuel area, and everyone ran out quickly.”
In addition to the Williams mechanics, four from Norfolk-based Caterham and one from Silverstone-based Force India needed treatment.
The upstairs hospitality area above the pit was unaffected by the flames, thanks to the concrete construction.
It was not known what caused the fire - the second in five races after the motorhome of the Oxfordshire-based Lotus team was wrecked in Malaysia.
Maldonado had started the season derided as unfit to compete at the sport’s highest level because he had bought his way into the sport with EUR40million in sponsorship. But he won the race despite odds of 300-1.
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