user icon
icon
link-icon
<< Return to the news list
Lotus needs Maldonado's 'financial support' - Boullier

Lotus needs Maldonado's 'financial support' - Boullier

  • Published on 06 Dec 2013 16:44
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
Lotus has admitted for the first time that Pastor Maldonado will boost the Enstone based team's coffers in 2014. Earlier, Venezuelan Maldonado said there was no guarantee his departure from Williams would mean his lucrative backer PDVSA will follow him to his next F1 team.

And when Lotus announced that the 28-year-old is arriving to replace Kimi Raikkonen for 2014, it made no mention of the Venezuelan oil giant's millions. But team boss Eric Boullier always said the not-significantly-sponsored Nico Hulkenberg was actually Lotus' first choice to fill the driver vacancy. And the Frenchman on Friday was quoted as saying Maldonado's signing indeed comes with "financial support".

Lotus has reportedly been struggling to pay staff and develop its 2014 car, and Raikkonen departed for Ferrari declaring that he was not paid a single euro. Not signing the highly rated Hulkenberg was interpreted as a sign that the much-vaunted 'Quantum' buy-in deal had finally failed, leaving Lotus heavily reliant on Maldonado's cash.

"We are still confident something is going to happen," Boullier, referring to Quantum, told the British broadcaster Sky. "But timing is an issue. Obviously there is a financial support with Pastor, which in these days we may need. And unfortunately, as I said before, timing is an issue. We have to deliver a car in less than eight weeks now," he added.

Boullier, however, suggested it is wrong simply to write off Maldonado as a pay-driver, having delivered a pole and race win to Williams just last year. "Maybe there is still some fine-tuning to do with him," he acknowledged.

"I think we just need to make sure he can keep his focus -- actually similar issues we had with Romain (Grosjean) last year. I'm sure that with the proper support and team around him, we can do something nice with Pastor," added Boullier. (GMM)
F1 News Pastor Maldonado Ferrari Williams Lotus F1

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Pos
Team
Points
1
Red Bull Racing
195
2
Ferrari
151
3
McLaren
96
4
Mercedes
52
5
Aston Martin
40
6
Visa Cash App RB
7
7
Haas F1
5
Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia
Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China
Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco
Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria
Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy
Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

VE Pastor Maldonado 13
  • Team Renault
  • Points 27
  • Podiums 0
  • Grand Prix 19
  • Country VE
  • Date of b. Mar 9 1985 (39)
  • Place of b. Maracay, Aragua, VE
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.73 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Ferrari
Ferrari
Show full profile
show sidebar