Pastor Maldonado

Courtesy of Planet F1 and Tranquility's post in the Belgian PQR thread here's a place to discuss the Williams' No.2

"Is Pastor Maldonado the scariest man in sport? His post-Spa interview was delivered with a stare that could put a weak-hearted man six foot under from a distance of ten yards and culminated in the remarkable, utterly-terrifying announcement that he regards Lewis Hamilton as "a really good friend."

Jeepers.

Just jeepers.

Fear and pray for his enemies."

Pastor started his racing career in Italy in the Formula Renault and F3000. He would have been Formula Renault 3.5 Champion if he hadn't been disqualified from a win at Misano in 2006. Moving on to GP2 Pastor raced for 4 seasons, eventually taking the title in 2010.

With not insubstantial financial backing from Venezuela's national petroleum company, PDVSA, he took Nico Hulkenberg's seat at Williams for 2011 winning his first point last weekend in Belgium.

On a personal level, he is a self proclaimed Socialist and a personal friend of controversial Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, which probably explains the backing from PDVSA.... Oh, and he's 26 and is still wearing braces on his teeth.

 

[Brogan]

I didn't really know much about him and after his deliberate swipe at Hamilton during qualifying for the Belgian GP, I don't want to.

I don't care what anyone says, it was deliberate and there is no place for that in any form of motorsport.

He is not worthy of a seat in F1.

 

[Fenderman]

Never thought he was ready for F1. Anyone watching his antics in the lower formulae should have been concerned about his coming into F1 at Williams, especially as ART team-mate Hulkenberg outdrove him in GP2 anyway. Money talks though, doesn't it.

Worrying still is that he learnt nothing from Monaco and apparently nothing from Spa. I confidently predict we will see more of his bipolar entertainment until Williams wake up and send him back to Venezuela.

Sorry, Pastor, you are still young and seem to be quite a nice bloke out of the cockpit but until you shape up, that's how I feel.

 

[Fenderman]

Some Maldonado entertainment:

 

[Fenderman]

Before you think I'm just being 'orrible. A tribute:

 

[Senna's_right_foot]

Jesus, that second video No yellow flags in Venezuela?

 

[Fenderman]

Jesus, that second video No yellow flags in Venezuela?

Race was already Red Flagged. You can see one waved in the foreground. Reds would have been waving all round the track. Probably his worst brainfade that year.

 

[teabagyokel]

He could have killed someone in the second video !

 

[Fenderman]

He could have killed someone in the second video !

Quite a few people, in fact. Saw that live on Eurosport and couldn't believe what was happening. Have to say, I recall that Maldonado wasn't the only one not paying attention to the flags but there we go, that's GP2, upholding the tradition of F3000.

 

[Tacitus]

Maldonardo
At least he's dramatic

 

[landogeorgelewis1]

Seems a bit of an odd ball to me.

Think he got lucky by winning the GP2 title in 2010 - alot of drivers on the grid weren't all that good plus Sam Bird was just a rookie that season. If he'd been involved in this season i doubt he'd have been anywhere near Grosjean.

On the whole i believe he got the drive at Williams cause he brings money to the team, or else i reckon Nico Hulkenberg would have still been in the car.

 

[Galahad]

Moving on to GP2 Pastor raced for 4 seasons

There's a bad omen. I can't think of any top drivers of the past or present who took four years to win a junior championship.

 

[FB]

Paul di Resta did 4 seasons in DTM and never tested himself in the usual feeder series for F1. His last efforts in single seaters was in 2006, at least Pastor had a go (whether he was good or bad is down to opinion).

 

[Galahad]

Paul di Resta did 4 seasons in DTM and never tested himself in the usual feeder series for F1. His last efforts in single seaters was in 2006, at least Pastor had a go (whether he was good or bad is down to opinion).

It's hardly the same though, FB, in GP2 Pastor was racing against his peers, not experienced professionals twice his age who'd won multiple races and championships in touring cars. If Mercedes had wanted Paul in GP2, I daresay that's what he would have done. Just as Maldonado's backers continued to support his career in a different way.

 

[Brogan]

A journo on Twitter posted that with regards to the ramming incident - "sources suggest that the team was not too impressed with its driver, and thought he escaped lightly."

 

[teabagyokel]

A journo on Twitter posted that with regards to the ramming incident - "sources suggest that the team was not too impressed with its driver, and thought he escaped lightly."

He may have dug his own Grove.

Thankyou, I'll be here all week.

 

[Fenderman]

 

[FB]

Well he may have a bucket full of Venezuelan petro dollars but I think Pastor is probably the worst driver on the grid currently and his time is up. Come on Williams, I know times are hard but I'd rather you were racing HRT and Virgin for last place than carrying on with this muppet (oh, you are racing HRT and Virgin for last place )

 

[cider_and_toast]

Well he may have a bucket full of Venezuelan petro dollars but I think Pastor is probably the worst driver on the grid currently and his time is up. Come on Williams, I know times are hard but I'd rather you were racing HRT and Virgin for last place than carrying on with this muppet (oh, you are racing HRT and Virgin for last place )

I think that may be a little un-fair on Pasty. I think he's driving a car that is clearly a bucket of poo. He has out qualified his way more experienced team mate on a number of occasions and he was running really well in Monaco until a certain person had a coming together with him.

Clearly not the best driver in F1 but I don't think anyone would be making a go of that car at the moment.

 

[Slyboogy]

What has he done wrong recently? I think he's improved a lot from the first few races where he was abysmal, faster than Barrichello in qualifying, should really have more points than Barrichello, and is matching him in the races, and that makes him the worst driver on the grid?

The worst driver on the grid today had his best race to date (Karthikeyan)