F1 insiders had a keen eye on Venezuela's presidential election on Sunday. The sport's main focus was, of course, in Japan, where Pastor Maldonado was racing his PDVSA-branded Williams around Suzuka.
But in his native Venezuela, countrymen were busy re-electing the socialist incumbent Hugo Chavez -- probably a significant moment for the continuation of Maldonado's career. Chavez, who achieved 54 per cent of the vote, is a known supporter of Maldonado's F1 career, backing the 27-year-old in millions through the PDVSA brand.
State owned oil company PDVSA's backing of Maldonado has been highly controversial, and on the eve of the Japanese grand prix, the driver sounded unsure if the money would keep flowing in 2013 -- probably because Chavez's now-defeated opponent Henrique Capriles Radonski was vowing sweeping reforms.
But with Chavez now elected, analysts expect the status quo for PDVSA, with a Reuters report saying the 58-year-old uses the company to pay "for everything from sports teams to health clinics". "Congratulations to all Venezuelans for their participation in the elections," Maldonado wrote on Twitter. "Long live democracy!" (GMM)
Relief for Maldonado as supporter Chavez re-elected
- Published on 08 Oct 2012 16:47
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- By: Rob Veenstra
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Driver profile
- Team Renault
- Points 27
- Podiums 0
- Grand Prix 19
- Country VE
- Date of b. Mar 9 1985 (41)
- Place of b. Maracay, Aragua, VE
- Weight 68 kg
- Length 1.73 m
- 27,547 comments on Renault
9 members have this team as their favourite
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Team profile
- Team name Williams
- Base Grove, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
- Jacques Villeneuve 1
- Logan Sargeant 2
- Ayrton Senna 2
- Jacques Villeneuve 3
- Nicholas Latifi 6
- Jacques Villeneuve 6
- Nico Rosberg 7
- Nico Hülkenberg 10
- Nico Rosberg 10
- Jenson Button 10
- Pastor Maldonado 12
- Pastor Maldonado 16
- Nico Rosberg 16
- Nico Rosberg 16
- Valtteri Bottas 17
- Lance Stroll 18
- Pastor Maldonado 18
- Felipe Massa 19
- Alexander Albon 23
- Sergey Sirotkin 35
- Nyck de Vries 45
- Carlos Sainz jr 55
- George Russell 63
- Valtteri Bottas 77
- Robert Kubica 88
- 161,368 comments on Williams
- 39 members have this team as their favourite
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