LIGHTS TO FLAG: Pastor Maldonado on that shock win for Williams, Lotus struggles, and life after F1

Pastor Maldonado emerged as a cult hero to many Formula 1 fans for his aggressive driving style and total commitment to the cause that sometimes resulted in dented carbon fibre. Yet he also delivered a brilliant shock victory for Williams in 2012 – which remains the team’s last triumph to date – and showed stunning turns of pace on other occasions. We sat down with him for a chat about his F1 career, and what he’s been up to since, for our latest edition of Lights to Flag…

From BMX to the kart track

Maldonado grew up in a family involved in the automotive industry in Venezuela, quipping he was “almost born in a car dealership” and received his first bike as a toddler. He raced BMX bikes before “a good client of my family went to buy a car in one of our dealerships – and his son was racing in go-karts, and they invited us to do some laps at the local track”.