Williams sends his condolences following the death of Hugo Chavez

Even before he became GP2 champion and arrived at Grove, Pastor Maldonado indicated that Hugo Chavez strongly supported him in reaching the pinnacle of world motorsport: « Venezuela is pushing very hard for me, so I can make it to Formula 1. All my sponsors come from Venezuela, so it’s very important support. He (editor’s note: Hugo Chavez) is pushing for me, I know it. Not just in motorsports but in all sports. All Venezuelan sports are developing. I am the closest and most ready to reach F1. So he is satisfied and supports me. »

The massive sponsorship through PDVSA and the country’s tourism authorities has long been under criticism in Venezuela, as shown by the letter sent by a local parliamentarian to Williams to clarify the conditions for granting this subsidy. This letter has certainly gone unanswered since the different logos are still prominently displayed on the Williams cars.

But now that Hugo Chavez has succumbed to his cancer, the future of these financial supports could be called into question, which prompted Williams to make an official statement on the subject: « After yesterday’s announcement that Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias, President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, has died following a long battle with cancer, the Williams F1 Team sends its deepest condolences to the family of President Chavez and the people of Venezuela. »

Nevertheless, Pastor Maldonado is now just another driver among many. He has become a national icon, notably thanks to his victory at the Spanish Grand Prix last year. This resulted in a public holiday for all his compatriots. Furthermore, the team benefits from a properly formalized long-term contract, in which his lawyers have certainly anticipated difficult exit conditions, even in the event of a change in political regime.

With the participation of www.Racingbusiness.fr