Maldonado: « Me, a public danger? A media invention »
While he accumulates incidents during races, Pastor Maldonado has been carrying the image of an inconsistent, even dangerous driver for some time. The person concerned, who is aware of it, has made a point to defend himself.
From the status of a paying driver to that of a dangerous driver. Pastor Maldonado does not accept that his reputation is being tarnished today. He accuses journalists and the media sphere in general of not being objective and especially of trying to fuel controversy, as he stated to our Brazilian colleagues from Globo: “I understand that these days finding information in Formula 1 is not easy,” he replied. “On the podium, it’s always the same drivers with the same cars, there are no battles like 10-15 years ago, and therefore news is sought where there is none.”
The first “label” the Lotus driver had to painfully shed is being considered a driver with a suitcase. He then adds: « PDVSA has supported various drivers, not just me. But I managed to get into F1 thanks to my results. I don’t see any difference between my path and that planned by the Red Bull Junior Team, which has brought drivers who currently make up the starting grid. »
The Venezuelan claims he is being unfairly criticized and even considers himself underrated: « Without a good car, it’s difficult to show that you deserve a seat in F1. In my opinion, there are many drivers who don’t deserve a cockpit, while I have peace of mind and I know I’ve done enough to ensure a long career. »
Pastor Maldonado has a pole position to his credit – achieved after Lewis Hamilton’s disqualification in 2012 in Barcelona – which he managed to turn into a victory, at the expense of Fernando Alonso. No matter what is said, not everyone in the paddock can boast of such an achievement. It’s up to him to restore his reputation.
