Maldonado will leave F1 after 2014*

[N4D13]

* Hopefully. It's obviously not confirmed but I couldn't resist the chance to bring a smile to your faces!

No, seriously, I have come across the news that PDVSA will stop its Formula One funding after 2014 (http://thejudge13.com/2014/05/20/daily-f1-news-and-comment-tuesday-20th-may-2014/#Maldonado). Surely that will mean that Mr Maldonado will have to look for a position in somewhere other than Formula One?

[Doc Austin]

It's ok. Pastor already has another job lined up.


http://previewcf.turbosquid.com/Preview/2014/05/12__21_30_00/b-0000.jpgd55c3808-e0ec-4b4b-a6cf-fd52c7610ea2Large-1.jpg

[TheFamousEccles]

Bye. Thanks for going. :wave:

[Zico]

Yep, goodbye and good riddance Pastor. You gave us lots to talk about but usually for all the wrong reasons.

Stick to the simulator sunshine! ;) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFvrq7ucDNg

[steveaki13]

We know his sponsor is leaving, but lets wait and see. Who knows another sponsor might provide enough money to interest Caterham or one of the new teams.

[Bagwan]

Yep, goodbye and good riddance Pastor. You gave us lots to talk about but usually for all the wrong reasons.

Stick to the simulator sunshine! ;) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFvrq7ucDNg

Thanks for posting that , Zico .
What a laugh .

You'd think they might have used some of the more spectacular driving , instead of the most spectacular crashes during the simulator session , to show off his prowess , but , maybe there simply wasn't any .

I'd love one of those simulators , and my birthday is in June .

[zako85]

At this point I do wonder, why would any F1 team want to hire Maldonado without his sponsor? The answer is probably nobody would want to hire him. In fact, even with his sponsor, only a desperate team would want to hire him.

[journeyman racer]

Unbelievable that he has the status of being a GP winner.

[Firstgear]

Will he leave F1? No. Putting it that way makes it sound like it's his choice.
Like many before him, he won't leave - he'll be shown the door.

[zako85]

I'd be surprised if he signed only a one year contract. It's probably three year contract with PDVSA. By the way, good news. Maldonado broke into Q2 in Monaco (first time this year?).

[Doc Austin]

Is Pastor the donkey of Monoco yet, or do we have to wait for the race?

[N. Jones]

Maldonado can leave now if he wants, I won't miss him.

[N4D13]

Pastor Maldonado to stay with Lotus Formula 1 Team for 2015 (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/115044)

http://newsalescoach.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/humblepie-e1288647520854.png

[steveaki13]

I am actually surprised. I guess he must still be bringing loads of money.

He has had a terrible season.

[MacFeegle]

Lotus need Money. Pastor have money but me guess Lotus insist on Insurance for damage in crash for 2015 :D

[truefan72]

I am actually surprised. I guess he must still be bringing loads of money.

He has had a terrible season.

well, to be honest, so has the entire lotus team.
If lotus were the same car as in 2013, both he and grosjean would be fighting for podiums, or at the very least top 10 positions.

and quite frankly, I'm happy he was at lotus this year, without him ( and his money) i'm not sure lotus would have made the grid
furthermore, he is losing his main PDVSA backer at the end of this year, so the decision was made outside of that as well.

let's see how 2015 plays out and judge him then. He gets pass for 2014 in my book

[steveaki13]

well, to be honest, so has the entire lotus team.
If lotus were the same car as in 2013, both he and grosjean would be fighting for podiums, or at the very least top 10 positions.

and quite frankly, I'm happy he was at lotus this year, without him ( and his money) i'm not sure lotus would have made the grid
furthermore, he is losing his main PDVSA backer at the end of this year, so the decision was made outside of that as well.

let's see how 2015 plays out and judge him then. He gets pass for 2014 in my book

True about Lotus and his money, and if it means Lotus stay around for 2015 then I will take it, however I think Grosjean has been way better and Pastor just has too many collisions.

He's like the modern day Andrea De Cesaris :D

[zako85]

If we use Kimi Raikkonen as the yardstick, then Grosjean was a solid and dependable driver in 2013 but he wasn't exceptionally good. Clearly, the Lotus car in 2012-13 was very good. I am curious what Alonso could have achieved with it.