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]

Funny how JEV got a 10-place grid drop straight up for an equivalent move.

 

[ExtremeNinja]

JEV's move was clearly malicious. Maldonado's was just poor driving.

 

[teabagyokel]

I don't think there is that much separation.

 

[gdeacon7]

I don't think there is that much separation.

Penalising someone for misbehaving might force them to think twice about it. Penalising someone for driving badly isn't going to make them drive better.

 

[The Artist.....]

.... Also, I suspect that this had much more to do with cold tyres preventing any rear grip!

Anyway, I thought that if you were on the inside, then you were allowed to push the other driver off the track....

 

[KekeTheKing]

Anyway, I thought that if you were on the inside, then you were allowed to push the other driver off the track....

By losing control and sliding into them?!?

Laughable.

 

[KekeTheKing]

Charlie Whiting apparently made a pronouncement before the race that if the overtaking driver had any part of the front wing level with the rear tyres then that driver had track position over the driver being overtaken.

Or words to that effect anyway.

Heard that before the race too, but in Perez' interview with the BBC he said that the clarification dealt with the front wheels. If you edge your wing ahead of someones front tires, then the other driver must leave space in the following corner.

Edit - I believe it was misreported Brogan

 

[Brogan]

Either I misheard it as the rear tyres then or it was misreported.

 

[ExtremeNinja]

Wing ahead of someone's front tyres or front tyres ahead of someone's wing? The latter would make more sense, IMO.

 

[teabagyokel]

gdeacon7 - Fair enough.

 

[ExtremeNinja]

Maldonado accepts responsibility for crash with Lewis and the decision to be penalised...

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/101104

...but not so with his clash with Perez.

The bottom line: I see no reason to change my driving style.

I have said in another thread that I think this weeks incident was more careless than reckless and that I think he would have escaped penalty were it not the latest incident in a sequence.

 

[racecub]

He didnt accept responsibility for the crash with lewis at the time did he.

 

[GeoffP]

I agree 100% with the penalty imposed by the Stewards.

In isolation this would have been a racing incident, but he has been given a talking to as this is getting all to frequent an occurrence. The lack of direct penalty is appropriate to Silverstone in isolation, the warning is a demonstration that the view is the he needs to moderate himself around other drivers.

If he said he does not need to change his driving style after receiving a warning.... if I was a Steward I'd pull him straight back in, let him know he has missed the point, give him a 10 place grid penalty and let him know if it doesn't sink in he'll get a race ban.

All nice and fair really

 

[The Artist.....]

Hmm... Where have we heard all this before....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/14077036

 

[F1ang-o]

It has been stated in many threads................Lewis has never used his car as a weapon, as PM did to LH at Spa 2011 Q2... after the chequered flag & Perez at Monaco this year............plus much more....
Lewis hasn't hit a Marshall causing back injuries etc...

Groundhogs

 

[The Artist.....]

F1ang-o
I should remind you that there were 2 drivers who were punished following qualifying in Spa 2011. This is not to justify Maldonado's actions, but just to add context.... All of the sounding off that has occurred relating to Maldonado is overblown hyperbole, fuelled by people like David Coulthard!

 

[F1ang-o]

The Artist.....

IMO bullying on track...is over aggressive driving........when travelling at high speed
But taking a swipe at a car after a session is over, especially between Quali sessions, is the work of a complete
And left to carry on.....this complete disrespect for other drivers...which is not the same as adventurous overtaking...ie not turning into another car...will just get worse.
What two punishments are you refering to at Spa 2011.

 

[The Artist.....]

F1ang-o - I really can't be bothered to answer your question. Do a little bit of research and it might enlighten you.

 

[Josh]

He's talking about the reprimand for Hamilton.

 

[ExtremeNinja]

Why bring up old issues that are no longer issues? This is the Maldonado thread and we are discussing Maldonado's issues. Lewis' issues are dead and buried and as such have no relevance unless you are looking to use the comparison to take a swipe at him. Yesterday's news. If people haven't moved on from that then they might as well stop following F1 and watch the 2011 Season review on repeat.