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.

 

[rufus_mcdufus]

Say what you like about Pastor Maldonado, I think it's great to have a man of the cloth in Formula 1.

[I'm sure I or someone else did that one about 3 pages back]

 

[FB]

Pastor to Sauber perhaps? Along with his petro dollars.

 

[RasputinLives]

PDSVA have a contract with Williams and the contract states that they must run a Venezulan driver. Nothing to do with Maldo at all which means Maldo can walk if he likes and I'm sure Sauber would def consider him.

It does mean, and god help us, we could see Johnny Ceccto Jr in a Williams as he is the only other even nearly ready for F1 Venezulan driver.

For those of you not familiar with Johnny as well as have a rep for getting in every big accident he can in GP2, as well as fighting with the leaders when he's a lap down, He's also twice already this season delib forced drivers off the track in quali after he felt he was blocked by them.

....and you thought Pastor was bad!

 

[teabagyokel]

Maldonado is an interesting racer. We know he is very, very fast on his day, in a half-decent car. His qualifying last year was often superb even if he tended to lose it all. He's not been crashing so much, either.

And don't forget Barcelona.

 

[RasputinLives]

Planet F1 are running this article saying Maldo is rubbishing rumours that he'll leave F1

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/3213/8983733/Maldonado-rubbishes-exit-rumours

But I read it as he's rubbishing that he does not have a good relationship with Williams and saying he will be in F1 next year - He doesn't say where and the last quote seems to indicate he'll be breaking some news soon.

 

[KekeTheKing]

Get this bum off the Grid. He's an embarrasment to F1. If he's in at Lotus next year instead of Hulk it will be such a shame, and further testimony that Formula One is on very shaky ground as a whole.

 

[Bill Boddy]

There have been drivers in the past who have declared that they will shortly announce which team will be graced by their presence. Just look at Algeusuari for a start.

 

[sobriety]

Well, Uncle Fester now drives for Enstone. If they can stop him hitting things he might turn out to be a decent driver.

I think I said it elsewhere, but mabye Romain should give him the number of his head doctor, couldn't hurt...

 

[GeoffP]

Bugger

 

[Bus Stop Chicane]

Cash-strapped team employ two drivers who like to plow into a wall/driver about six times a season.

Makes perfect sense.

 

[Greenlantern101]

Boys this is gonna be good.

 

[The Pits]

@grandprix diary on twitter: "pastor, could you please make the cheque out to K.Raikkonen" cut out the middle man!!!

 

[mjo]

 

[sushifiesta]

I don't think he deserves this chance but nevertheless I think he could end up doing well at Lotus as he has shown glimmers of talent from time to time in-between all the madness. Frankly though I really don't like his attitude both on and off track and I'd love to see Grosjean put him in his place.

 

[Sakari]

Disgrace for team Enstone.. this retard does not deserve to drive an F1 driver.

 

[FB]

A little harsh Sakari - he's only driver to break the Red Bull/McLaren/Lotus/Ferrari strangle hold on race wins in the last few years.

 

[Titch]

He's only going to Lotus because of his sponsorship money.
His wild and stupid accusations at Williams over the last few races really says it all about the man. I hope Grosjean, and the team, can stand up to him. It's a real shame that the Hulk didn't get the seat.

 

[siffert_fan]

This just goes to show that, once again, money speaks louder than talent. Hulk should have gotten the drive @ Enstone

 

[Il_leone]

Geni Capital have up Team Enstone big time getting a pay driver because they did not want to stump up the money out of their own pockets and field a world class driver

Maldonado may have won Spanish GP last year but I think you will find 90% of his races after that have been crashes or retirements

 

[Josh]

Who knows, maybe a change of environment is all he needs?

Il_leone As much as I agree with you, Maldonado actually only retired in 3 races this season. It's just such a shame he's been very unremarkable in the rest of them.

Cash-strapped team employ two drivers who like to plow into a wall/driver about six times a season.

Makes perfect sense.

That's a bit harsh. Grosjean has been great the second half of this season.