Maldonado's future!?! Hugo Chavez dies...

[chunterer]

We may get to find out fairly soon how much longer Maldonado keeps his F1 PDVSA backing as the Venezuelan President has just died.

I believe there was a lot of anti Chavez movement already at the time he allowed all that financialsupport to go to Williams and the main rival had said he would stop all that?

The next few months will be interesting....

[wolfhound]

My guess he will probably be okay for this year but 2014 might well be very different. If Maldonado calms his wild moments he might be able to stay in F1 on merit, providing his place does not go to another pay driver.

[Paradise City]

That he's actually a winning driver and a guy with a high profile means that he is probably safe although some of the less high profile drivers that have been fielded in other series will probably get the axe. The Chavista party might decline but even if they do they are always going to be powerful enough to bargain in Venezuelan politics in some sort of way.

[Mekola]

This situation remind me the one that Fangio did cope after the military coup that deposed Juan Perón in September 1955. He could stay and survive in F1 and won two more championships. But faced some problems in his daily life, in Argentina his goods were menaced by a potential embargo, and even he was prevented to race in Venezuela during late 1957 because Perón was exiled there. For me is not so unlogical Fangio retired from F1 in 1958, when Argentina restored democracy that year.

[Bononi]

There will be a new election in 30 days. If the "Chavistas" win the election then maybe Williams (and what Maldonado really means there) will get some more time. Point is, the current and maybe future president will have to make alliances and change deeply the current regime if he wants to stay in power. Analysts are already alerting the delicate, if not critical, situation that Cuba will be after Chavez's death, and so this is an indication that PDVSA policies will change radically.

[Peter Mallett]

I would be surprised if Sir Frank hasn't already thought of something.

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

I would be surprised if Sir Frank hasn't already thought of something.

Oh S*** probably

[Hawkwood]

Well Williams already got the full 2013 amount from PDVSA before Christmas.
For 2014 of course Maldonado may have to make himself truly indispensable to F1.

[REALIST]

Originally Posted by Ostrogothicus

Well Williams already got the full 2013 amount from PDVSA before Christmas.
For 2014 of course Maldonado may have to make himself truly indispensable to F1.

I can't see him being capable of doing that. I would have thought that there are a few other midfield-capable runners with money, why would anyone pay him?

[321Go]

Maldonado will not be driving for Williams F1 in 2014.

[Paradise City]

Chavez is a martyr type in Venezuela. Maldonado is national icon in Venezuela.

Maldonado hasn't got a problem.

[Bononi]

Originally Posted by Paradise City

Chavez is a martyr type in Venezuela. Maldonado is national icon in Venezuela.

Maldonado hasn't got a problem.

Not good enough. Could you elaborate in depth what that means ? But first you should read the papers about the political situation in Venezuela.

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by Paradise City

Chavez is a martyr type in Venezuela. Maldonado is national icon in Venezuela.

Maldonado hasn't got a problem.

Or they could decide internally to not do it and the publicly divert blame/attention to the US. Just like when Chavez died, they can kick a few US diplomates out at about the same time they announce Maldanado is no longer in F1.

Richard

[p-matt]

I agree that Maldonado won't be affected too much. But I think Cecotto Jr and the likes will miss the boat as a result of this.

[Paradise City]

Originally Posted by Bononi

Not good enough. Could you elaborate in depth what that means ? But first you should read the papers about the political situation in Venezuela.

lol, here's my commentary then. Chavez has built up an election machine in which the poor of that country can extend power and which broke open the two party stranglehold which the top people held in their hands. That was something very new that Chavez did and there's no scrapping that. The Chavistas will be political players at worst and most probably king-makers. Maldonado is a very popular national figure there. The opposition angle themselves as patriots so they are not going to tear down a national winner. He don't be undermined without creating uproar although the rest of those obscure oil-funded race programs are certainly up for grabs. I haven't even started talking about how split the opposition are in their challenge to Chavez successor.

Johnny Jr is in the opposition camp so his prospects might be improved in the medium to long run although I doubt the Cecotto camp are placing many bets on that.

We'll see how things unfold of course.

[bella]

pastor for president?

(i'm only half joking...)

[wolfhound]

Williams have a long term deal with PDVSA according to Joe Saward, how long I don't know but such a deal may be difficult to break.

http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2013/...chavez-and-f1/

[chillibowl]

maybe im missing something but i do the politics even matter?

if PVDSA stays a nationalized company wont they continue to do things the same way and if it goes private wont they then act like any other private/semi private oil corporation out there (ie ExxonMobil, Shell, BP) and continue with sponsorship in F1. public or private, its just what these companies do isnt it?

[Paradise City]

There's not a hope in hell the opposition will regain that type of dominance that they will be able to privatise PVDSA outright. Not in the next 5 years. The opposition are far too split and the PVDSA itself is too iconic.

They may get enough traction to cut some of those programs mind you.

[jondownunder]

Venezuelan driver Roberto La Rocca had signed for Bamboo Engineering in GP3, but he has lost the drive "...because the support of his sponsors has now become uncertain as a result of the changing political situation in his Venezuelan homeland following the death of president Hugo Chavez last week."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/105969

Don't know if that has any bearing on PDVSA/Maldonado.

[Marcus666]

I have a little malice over that they missed Sennas Embratel and Gillette millions. He definetly deserved another shot as I see he was kicked out by Wolff and not anyone else. Let's see how Bottas will do, but I'm almost certain it won't make a difference, but hey, thats me.

[Mekola]

The legacy of Chavism is so strong in their supporters' hearts in form that the designed candidate of them for the forthcoming elections (Maduro) is the favourite to win next April in the presidentials. With that secure, it's keen to continue PDVSA sponsorship to Venezuelan drivers.

[Bononi]

Indeed, the key point is how long and the way that Maduro will handle this "chavism". One thing is the man himself and another is someone else making up to maintain that status quo...

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by jondownunder

Venezuelan driver Roberto La Rocca had signed for Bamboo Engineering in GP3, but he has lost the drive "...because the support of his sponsors has now become uncertain as a result of the changing political situation in his Venezuelan homeland following the death of president Hugo Chavez last week."

La Rocca has issued a press release pointing out that is not true and he he chose not to continue with the team after Atech was sold to Baboon. As he has a double F3 progrmme in place funds appear to be available.

[Beetle]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

maybe im missing something but i do the politics even matter?

if PVDSA stays a nationalized company wont they continue to do things the same way and if it goes private wont they then act like any other private/semi private oil corporation out there (ie ExxonMobil, Shell, BP) and continue with sponsorship in F1. public or private, its just what these companies do isnt it?

I agree.

I think Maldonado is past the point where he's simply "pay to play". He's a decent enough driver, and stands a good chance of being picked up by higher-ranking teams very soon, IMO.