Maldonado crash thwarts Rosberg

Pastor Maldonado ended Mercedes’ run of seven consecutive one-two finishes at the conclusion of practice yesterday of a race weekend – although not with a time to trouble the all-conquering team.

Whilst Lewis Hamilton topped the timesheet at the end of the second practice session ahead of tomorrow’s Singapore Grand Prix, championship leading team-mate Nico Rosberg was forced to settle for a lowly 13th.

That was thanks to Maldonado because at a time when Rosberg was conducting his low-fuel qualifying run on the supersoft tyres, the Venezuelan crashed into a wall, bringing out the red flags. Since the first race in 2008, the infamous ‘crashgate’ event won by Fernando Alonso, there has never been a Singapore Grand Prix without a safety car.

It came as no surprise, then, a red flag emerged during practice – and even less of a one it was Maldonado who caused it. Involved in more crashes than most throughout his career, he lost the rear of his Lotus emerging out of turn 10, sending the front-right ploughing into a wall.