F1: Williams Garage Catches Fire At Spanish GP

A fire erupts in Williams' garage stall in Spain, putting a damper on celebrations but causing no serious injuries...

Associated Press | Posted May 13, 2012 Barcelona (ESP)

Smoke from the Williams garage, filling the paddock and pit lane. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Sixteen people were injured, with one person being flown to hospital with severe burns, after a fire erupted inside Formula One team Williams' garage after team driver Pastor Maldonado won the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday.

Catalonia's regional government said in a statement that one person was airlifted to Barcelona hospital with serious burn wounds while five others were taken to local hospital for smoke inhalation. Ten people were treated at the Catalunya Circuit for smoke inhalation before being released.

Williams confirmed that the person airlifted to hospital was one of its staff, and that three others were also given treatment.

F1 team Caterham said in a statement that four team employees were among those taken to the Catalunya Circuit medical center to be examined, one with a minor hand injury and three with respiratory issues.

The fire erupted soon after Maldonado and the team had taken the traditional victory photo in front of the team garage.

Williams team principle Frank Williams, who is a paraplegic, was rushed from his wheelchair as he was giving a celebratory speech for a first F1 victory in eight years that coincided with the longtime team principal's 70th birthday celebrations.

Maldonado was photographed running from the garage while carrying his cousin Manuel -- whose right leg was in a cast -- on his back. Manuel Maldonado is shown holding Maldonado's Spanish GP trophy in his left hand as the pair rush to safety.

A black, acrid haze came flowing out of the British team's garage, filling the paddock and pit lane.

Mechanics and circuit firefighters were quickly on the scene to put out the fire with an ambulance on the scene treating one person for what appeared to be smoke inhalation.

Williams driver Bruno Senna's car was torched by the blaze.

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