Bojan Vrbnjak
Pastor Maldonado, who was once in Formulas 1 active for teams Williams in Lotus, claims that he was “just or almost” before the contract with Ferrari for the 2014 season. He expected to this transition occurred, so the Venezuelan, who is to this day the last winner of the Williams team. Years 2012 he entered the history book at the race in Barcelona, but then did not win any more podiums. It is after five years Venezuelan, which was given the title "Crash pilot”Ended his Formula 1 career.
He was said to have been in contact with Ferrari, where he negotiated for a seat next to Fernanda Alonso in the 2014 season. Finally, Sciuderia opted for Chemistry Raikkonen. Maldonado left Williams and joined Lotus. “I was the only, new real man in Formula 1,”Explains Maldonado in the new sequel to the Formula 1 podcast Beyond the Grid. "It was then as it is today at Verstappn. As with Robert Kubica. I was a racer of the moment.”The 34-year-old believes that there was a lot of interest in him at the time. Series champion GP2 in 2010 he could rely on the financial support of his homeland. State oil company PDVSA he was a sponsor. “There were conflicts of interest because of my sponsor,Maldonado explained.
"My sponsors were obviously in favor of not appearing on the race car, but they would be represented through another company. They wanted to find a solution for my career.”And at that time, at the end of 2013, it was supposed to exist as well contact with Ferrari. "At one point, we were very close to Ferrari. I expected to transfer to Maranello. That was my time. It was time to get a second chance,He says confidently Maldonado. However, there was no bread from this flour at Ferrari. When they Stefano domenicali, as team leader, and Luke of Montezemolo, the then president of Ferrari, resigned, that is finally ruined his dreams. “As a result, we lost contact and there were no more conversations."
Maranella, where Ferrari is headquartered, Maldonado he never visited. The meetings took place on the racetrack. “I met Domenicali and also Montezemolo.”After a bad season at Williams in 2013, wanted to find refuge elsewhere, even though he had a valid contract for up to a year 2015. "We expected to have the best race car in Williams history,”He added Maldonado in terms of the 2013 season, when he only managed to win the top ten once. “Instead, we had the worst race car of all time."
With a transfer to the Lotus team Maldonado improved only by a shade. In view of the introduction new hybrid technologies in Formula 1, however, only pointed to his farewell. While it is Williams with help Mercedes engine conquered the podium again, Lotus with a subordinate Renault engine stabbed with poor results. It is after five years Maldonado left the royal class. It can boast of one win, one of the best starting places and 28 resignations. When he looks back today on his time in Formulas 1, claims to be happy. “Not just because I got the chance, but also on what I achieved.”Could I achieve even more? “Much more. If you see Formula 1 racers, then you think, 'For God's sake, I can do this better than he can.' Today too. Maybe it's not my time anymore."
