Formula 1: The Top Races of 2012

Pastor Maldonado's victory in the Spanish Grand Prix: 

After continuing one of the most unsatisfactory seasons of its memorable history in 2011, there were misgivings as to whether Williams would ever win once more in F1. But at the Circuit de Catalunya in May this year, Pastor Maldonado revisits the British outfit to the top step of the platform with an inch-perfect drive. 

The race didn't have the on-track play of some of the others in 2012, but Maldonado's combat for conquest with Fernando Alonso was anxious and remained on a knife edge awaiting the chequered flag. However, the Williams driver was made to work for his entrance win after Alonso muscled past him at the first corner and built a gracious lead.  

Fernando Alonso victory in the European Grand Prix: 

The Valencia street track has resists to win the hearts of F1 fans since its prologue to the calendar in 2008. Its 3.3 miles of concrete-lined, unremarkable track had seen little enthusiasm in its first four years, but in 2012 it played mass to one of the most action-packed races of the season. 

Sebastian Vettel and Romain Grosjean both leave from race-winning location with alternator failures, exit Fernando Alonso with the occasion to fight from 11th on the grid to triumph in front of his home fans.  

Kimi Raikkonen's victory at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: 

After spending two years hitting trees in the World assembly Championship, Kimi Raikkonen revisit to F1 in 2012 and strung jointly a near spotless comeback season, topped off by his conquest in Abu Dhabi. 

It was another exciting race and made all the more exhilarating by championship nominee Sebastian Vettel preliminary from the pit lane due to a fuel detail in qualifying. Lewis Hamilton could maybe feel hard done by after reserved from the lead with a mechanical problem, but Raikkonen seized the occasion and held off title nominee Fernando Alonso in the closing stages.  

Sebastian Vettel wins the title in Brazil: The Brazilian Grand Prix was a appropriate finale to a exciting season, with a race that had the lot - from a first lap crash to a post-race argument. Sebastian Vettel ultimately emerged winning in Brazil, but it looked something but confident after his first lap contact with Bruno Senna. Despite stressed on with a damaged car, the Red Bull driver selected his way through the field in altering track situation to take the essential points to win the contest. 

Both drivers got out of their cars at the end of the race in a situation of distrust, but with Red Bull mechanics rejoice up and down the ditch lane there was no hesitation which man had come out on top.