Official: Renault does not keep Pastor Maldonado

Pastor Maldonado owes his entire career to the unwavering support of PDVSA, the national oil company of Venezuela. It began supporting local athletes under the directive of the country’s former president, Hugo Chavez.

At the time, the country could afford it while the price of a barrel of oil was reaching new heights, bringing in billions of dollars and allowing the implementation of an idealistic socialist program.

But in recent months, the situation has completely reversed, with a barrel now barely dropping to $30. Venezuela, like many other countries such as Russia or Azerbaijan, finds itself in a very complicated financial situation, making it much less justifiable to pay $50 million per season for a Formula One driver. That is why, despite an announcement last September of a renewal for 2016, this support has now ended.

Two days before the press conference for the launch of the new Renault team, the driver has taken the initiative and made it official that he will no longer be in F1 next season: « Today, I must inform you with the utmost humility that I will not be on the starting grid for the 2016 F1 season. Thank you all for your messages of support, your passion, and your questions about my future. »

The door is therefore now wide open for Kevin Magnussen, who makes an admirable comeback just four months after being dropped by McLaren in favor of Stoffel Vandoorne. He thus finds himself at the wheel of a team from a major manufacturer, in the midst of a reconstruction phase.

Furthermore, the final decision made at Renault will allow Manor to finalize its own driver lineup. Indeed, the team had been keeping an eye on the possibility of bringing in a driver of Kevin Magnussen’s caliber. Now that he is no longer available, the decision is expected to be between Alexander Rossi, Will Stevens, and Rio Haryanto.

With the participation of www.racingbusiness.fr