It’s now official – Pastor Maldonado will drive for Lotus in 2014.
The Venezuelan proved irresistible to the Enstone squad with his injection of PDVSA bolívars, coupled with the non-event of the mysterious Quantum investment.
If the evidence wasn’t already there, this news confirms the path Formula One has been heading in for some time — that money speaks far louder than potential.
German ace Nico Hülkenberg finds himself overlooked yet again, having already missed out on a Ferrari drive in favour of returnee, Kimi Räikkönen.
Hülkenberg himself is set to return to Force India, where he will lick his wounds and wonder aloud what he has to do the get a break.
A berth at Ferrari in twelve months’ time should Fernando Alonso end his Italian love affair, which has strained considerably this season, and make a sensational return to McLaren might represent his last chance to crack the big time.
It represents his fourth change of outfit in four seasons on the grid, and his third team overall, certainly not ideal for somebody wanting to build a competitive team around them long-term.
Back to Maldonado — his CV is hardly inspiring, in fifty-eight starts at Williams, he registered points on just seven occasions.
Aside from his fine victory at the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix, he has never finished higher than fifth, making that triumph seem nothing more than an anomaly.
The 28-year old scored just one point in the recently concluded season, ultimately beaten by rookie team-mate, Valtteri Bottas, and he departed the Grove outfit on a bitter note, having accused the team of sabotaging his car at Austin.
His reputation for using opponents as brakes is hardly inspiring, though he cleaned up his act somewhat in his latest campaign, he is still prone to a rush of blood to the head, which is unacceptable in a front-running car.
It would be unwise to completely dismiss Maldonado at this early stage, but the critics will be out in full force if he doesn’t achieve anything eye catching in his first four or five races, considering the Lotus was the second best car on the grid for the back half of this season.
Romain Grosjean has every reason to assume he will be Lotus’ number-one driver when Australia rolls around, he himself shed the reckless image which dogged his first full season.
The Frenchman if anything could prove a role model to Maldonado in how to turn fortunes around and change the public perception, but nothing in the Venezuelan’s career to date indicates this is possible…
Mat Coch
Roar Guru
The Quantam deal is dead. If it didn't happen 6 months ago, or 3 months ago or in any of the 'next weeks' that were so eagerly pressed upon us, why would it happen now? Maldonado has no place on an F1 grid. Just as the marshal he hit under double waved yellow's at Monaco. Money saved him then, as now.
Mat Coch
Roar Guru
Investment funds don't tend to make a habit of losing money.
Adam Smith
Guest
I am wondering how Lotus got into such financial trouble in the first place. I thought they made money based on performance, which was very high all year. But damn, I really wished they got that investment and Hulkenberg.
Bayden Westerweller
Roar Guru
It's taking the good with the bad. Lotus/Enstone/Renault is potentially sacrificing on track fortunes for off-track wellbeing, time will tell whether the move was inspired. But from a purely sporting point of view, it's not the decision you want to see...
Bayden Westerweller
Roar Guru
If you'd said that twelve months ago I'd agree wholeheartedly, but Grosjean upped his game massively this season, he should be a race winner next season if the car is as anything as good as the E21. Maldonado is the unknown, for now it's a clear cut case of money winning out over talent, but we should give him a couple of races to prove everybody wrong. If not, then serious questions will be raised...
Bayden Westerweller
Roar Guru
F1 is a fickle business, that's exactly what it is these days - the term 'sport' can be loosely ascribed with the category. These organisations do inexplicable things that defy convention, it's just the way it works. I expect Hulkenberg to bag a few podiums next year and even challenge for a victory if the VJM whatever is half-decent in his hands. As for Maldonado, there's no doubt he's talented, it's whether he can eliminate his recklessness that will determine if he does anything to change the cavalier impression everybody has.
Bayden Westerweller
Roar Guru
Yeah Mark, this was one of the worst kept secrets of the late season. The silver lining of this is that Hulkenberg, who I rate highly, will probably be in a better position to end up at Ferrari or possibly McLaren in 2015, than if he were at Lotus.
Daniel Bradley
Roar Rookie
How good is it to see 2 crash masters in the same team? But, really I'm not sure if Lotus have made the right decision in signing Maldonado and not Hulkenberg if it's reasons other than money.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Nevertheless, Quantum are still trying to complete their deal with Lotus which is confusing now. Confusing because they wanted Hulkenberg in the team if they decided to buy out that 35%. Even still, we don't know where Lotus will be at next year in terms of performance. A Force India with Hulkenberg at the wheel could be quicker on all occasions than a Lotus with Maldonado. And who knows, now that he has a competitive car Maldonado could deliver some results? Surely he himself must realise in a bigger team that his GP2 hotheadedness won't take him far if winning races is what he really wants.
Pat
Guest
It's reported that he is bringing $30 to $40 million pound of funding so they needed the money as they couldn't even pay their drivers, which I assume would be top of the crop for payment priority, imagine the 250 employees working at the factory as to their non-payments. I see it as a short term thing to get Lotus back on track financially, hope that Roman continues to pull solid results, and also transform Pastor psychologically like they did Roman (as he was also wreckless - Webber coining 'I got Grosjean'd).
Mark Young
Roar Guru
I think we all saw this coming and hoped that it wouldn't, but here we are!! The positive out of this is that is really has the lowest possible expectations, everyone expecting him to sulk, get flogged by Grosjean and hit people on track. So even an innocuous season will serve him well. The Grid is now largely waiting to see what Happens to Alonso (IMO), of the top drivers, he is the one most likely to be on the move for 2015. If he moves to McLaren, musical chairs will begin in earnest!