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.

 

[teabagyokel]

If it was not for his wealthy backers does anyone think he would be still in F1 then?

Well, he clearly has the speed to be in Formula One ... usually! However, he does have an incredibly wild streak that might have been, you could say, less difficult to ignore by a prospective employer had he not had wealthy backers. Indeed, his Circuit de Monaco life-ban may have stood, making it much more difficult for a team to take the plunge.

Comparing him with Yuji Ide, frankly, lacks all perspective. Maldonado has won a Grand Prix and Ide was never going to do that!

It is easier to enter F1 when you have backing. I certainly cannot see his current team-mate ever making F1 without that backing. But you wonder if it is possible that there would have been a team who were brave enough to take the plunge on Maldonado if he didn't come loaded - honestly, I think it is not impossible.

 

[Mephistopheles]

Of course coming from a family of means is going help as it is very very expensive to race even in the lower formulae having wealthy parents gives a child the luxury of learning his craft without having to worry about finding the money to do it and so can concentrate on honing his abilities, Jenson's father bankrupted himself paying for his sons racing and luckily it has paid dividends Lewis was fortunate enough to have the backing of Ron Dennis and the McLaren team to pay for his early career.

The fact is these days to race you need money and it is completely irrelevant where that money comes from just as long as it comes from somewhere.

On the other hand a driver could be richer than Soloman but if he ain't got no driving talent then he ain't gonna drive an F1 car...

 

[racecub]

Lewis was lucky; but he made that luck by being an outstanding driver that Mclaren kept on their pogramme. Had he not at any time been outstanding he would have been dropped, as I believe Rosberg was (apologies if I got that wrong). Prior to that, Lewis' father was mortgaged to the hilt and working night and day to support his son. So yes Maldonado is one lucky guy to have rich parents...but it takes more than money. Maldonado has the luxury of being reckless and knowing he will retain his drive, but if he maintains his current mindset Im not sure his money will cushion him indefinately.

 

[Il_leone]

Mephistopheles

I meant back in the mid 90's the usual warning for over aggressive driving was 1 race ban suspended for 3 races

Schumacher got 1 race ban suspended for 4 races for apparent robust defense against Hill at Spa

Hakkinin got 1 race ban suspended for 3 races after crashing with Barrichello last corner at Silverstone in 94 and then the next race he did that crazy start at Hockenheim and slid across 5 cars causing a pile up and got banned

I remember Hakkinen because of his accident prone days was considered not good enough to be world champion until he got the car ...i wonder if Maldonado can become that

 

[Il_leone]

Maldonado treaded a very fine line from being a hero but ended being a villain.

The commentators were ready to praise another Williams podium ...the BBC do appear to have a soft spot for Williams UNTIL he crashed into Lewis

 

[Mephistopheles]

racecub did I at any point in my post disrespect Lewis or say that he didn't have talent? The only point I was trying to make is that motor racing is expensive and requires a vast amount of money to get to the top.

I believe that Maldonado has talent if he didn't he would not have won a race in his second year of trying and be competitive in many races and qualifying sessions this season.

In fact if you look at my last line of post it absolutely agrees with what you have said, there is really no need to defend Lewis in every instance, especially when he is not being criticised.

 

[Mephistopheles]

Il_leone a one race ban suspended for 3 races and the slate is wiped clean if you keep your nose clean is really no ban or penalty at all is it?

I believe they call them cautions these days

Actually it is more lenient than a post race pit stop penalty, as neither Schumi or Mika lost a single point by getting them...

 

[racecub]

Mephistopheles No you didn't disrespect lewis or say he has no talent, I dont believe I accused you of such. And i wasnt defending lewis I was clarifying the facts regarding his funding. But we'd better stop talking about lewis becuse this is the Maldonado thread. At least we're agreed that Maldo's a lucky boy to have a rich daddy.

 

[Mephistopheles]

Yes racecub and I wish I had a rich daddy as well but such is life as those who can't speak French are often heard to utter when shit happens...

 

[racecub]

Oui monsieur c'est la vie. Mais l'argent n'est pas tout. Peut- etre Maldonado l'apprendra.

 

[FB]

Rich family, reckless driver - Ayrton Senna anyone? Anyway, having seen him in the flesh Pastor is the size of jockey and has about as much meat on him as one. How you are expected to hold on to an F1 car when you look like you will blow away in the wind is beyond me.

 

[racecub]

Add supreme talent and car control to Atrton's list of attributes. Maldo's not in his league.
So Maldo's tiny. That answers a few questions.

 

[jez101]

Be nice, peoples

He let me take this for my kids at the FOTA Forum last night.

 

[Brogan]

Did you ask him why he didn't go left?

 

[GeoffP]

Off Topic -

Lee McKenzie was opening the Q&A session stating the audience could ask more awkward questions, she mentioned she had once been involved with a pre-school session where they had Jenson Button introduced as the 2009 champion and a girl asked him if he was so good in 2009 why was he rubbish for so many years

 

[FB]

I didn't but he did sign the Williams page in my Autocourse from last year which has probably added about a quid to the value. A very nice man. Oh, and he shook Martin Whitmarsh's hand as he left the auditorium last night. Pastor to Mclaren, you heard it here first!

 

[Incubus]

Pastor to Mclaren, you heard it here first![/quote]

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...and last?

 

[F1ang-o]

bit off topic......... but following th Ms Mckensie thing..

An Old B/W TV classic...clip of a Blue Peter/ programme, it's shown now & then.......
A (approx 6/8 years old) girl is reading the sports news... Grand Prix......she is told the correct pronunciation, immediately.......she replies..... then why does it say Pricks here............................summat like that, .not verbatim..but ..

 

[GeoffP]

F1ang-o, I thought that was from "Why don't you"

 

[F1ang-o]

GeoffP
You are probably right, I meant to put a ? mark after the prog., cos I wasn't sure....thanks
It always makes me laugh though.....there are some in F1....