Venezuela Freezes all Sponsorships

Wallio · Post by **Wallio** » 19 Oct 2013, 18:12

http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com/2013/10/19/in-wake-of-scandal-venezuela-freezes-sponsorship-money-for-drivers/

Seems quite the scandal has rocked Venezuela, and they are temporarily halting all sponsor money. If that $100,000,000 invoice from a few years back is true, I'd be worried if I was Pastor. This could see him get the big ugly ax......

Dj_bereta · Post by **Dj_bereta** » 19 Oct 2013, 18:17

Viso will be sacked from Andretti if this prolongs for the next season.

Also, this could spell doom for Williams and 2014 might be the last season of groove team

Post by **kevinbotz** » 19 Oct 2013, 18:55

Well, Williams are looking at a substantial discrepancy in their finances should PDVSA unilaterally abrogate their agreement. A $48 million dollar discrepancy.

The question now will be whether or not Williams have adequate commercial contingency plans in place to address the concomitant fallout from a PDVSA withdrawal. I fear that Williams' future will be conditional upon the success of those safeguards, if they even exist.

Post by **Ataxia** » 19 Oct 2013, 19:00

kevinbotz wrote:Well, Williams are looking at a substantial discrepancy in their finances should PDVSA unilaterally abrogate their agreement. A $48 million dollar discrepancy.

The question now will be whether or not Williams have adequate commercial contingency plans in place to address the concomitant fallout from a PDVSA withdrawal. I fear that Williams' future will be conditional upon the success of those safeguards, if they even exist.

I doubt Williams would put all of their eggs into one basket, and I'd expect there were financial plans in place for when PDVSA pulled out their money. I'd imagine the department in charge of the budget would have been working out a strategy after Hugo Chavez passed away, maybe even prior to this.

If the rumour about Giedo van der Garde's father-in-law purchasing Toto Wolff's stake in the team is true, then perhaps that would work to soften the blow.

For my own interests too, I'm hoping Williams will weather any potential storm.

andrew2209 · Post by **andrew2209** » 19 Oct 2013, 19:08

Well we'll all be missing Maldonado and Cecotto Jr dearly.

noiceinmydrink · Post by **noiceinmydrink** » 19 Oct 2013, 20:37

andrew2209 wrote:Well we'll all be missing Maldonado and Cecotto Jr dearly.

Absolutely. Cecotto didn't even make it to F1, the poor bugger. Sleep nicely my dear princesses

girry · Post by **girry** » 19 Oct 2013, 21:42

Maldonado does actually deserve a seat in F1 by speed alone but I wouldn't feel sorry for him even if he lost his place, he's got a bit of a cock aura with him thanks to the smoothened road he's had. The others....well, won't miss ya.

As for Williams, reports say they were one of the richest midfield teams, so even if this rumour is true, it will cause major financial damage but will still be repairable..

Onxy Wrecked · Post by **Onxy Wrecked** » 19 Oct 2013, 23:29

The end of Viso? Me gusta as that means Carlos Munoz now has a ride. Maybe that one off Munoz was in for the 500 will be for Kurt Busch. I also am glad that Johnny Cecotto Jr. won't be in F1 now. An unnamed driver received $66 million and her signature was forged... I suspect it's Milka Duno.

Post by **kevinbotz** » 19 Oct 2013, 23:33

Various Williams mechanics and engineers have expressed concerns over Maldonado's ability as far back as 2012, specifically directed towards his perennial inconsistency and an almost pathological inability to translate pace into points. A general perception of his conduct as unnecessarily egotistical and intransigent has further reduced his stock as an effective driver.

Reportedly, Williams' senior management were apoplectic following Maldonado's aggressive pass on Bottas at Suzuka. That he's made no secret of his desperation to leave the team, allied with this latest declaration by the Venezuelan government, has in all probability sealed Maldonado's fate in Formula One.

Onxy Wrecked · Post by **Onxy Wrecked** » 19 Oct 2013, 23:36

kevinbotz wrote:Various Williams mechanics and engineers have expressed concerns over Maldonado's ability as far back as 2012, specifically directed towards his perennial inconsistency and an almost pathological inability to translate pace into points. A general perception of his conduct as unnecessarily egotistical and intransigent has further reduced his stock as an effective driver.

Reportedly, Williams' senior management were apoplectic following Maldonado's aggressive pass on Bottas at Suzuka. That he's made no secret of his desperation to leave the team, allied with this latest declaration by the Venezuelan government, has in all probability sealed Maldonado's fate in Formula One.

So who will replace the Pastor?

Aerospeed · Post by **Aerospeed** » 19 Oct 2013, 23:47

Hopefully Davide Valsecchi will make a bid for the seat, he's actually quite a decent driver who has potential to race in F1. Other than that, I should expect a pay-driver to take his place - you can't easily replace the sponsorship cash he's brought over the years, but they can recuperate some of it.

watka · Post by **watka** » 19 Oct 2013, 23:55

This is pretty damaging news for Williams and despite his win, I can't see Maldonado getting an F1 seat without his money. Looks like Williams could be fighting with Sauber over Sirotkin!

Sublime_FA11C · Post by **Sublime_FA11C** » 20 Oct 2013, 04:09

Idk, the guy won a race. Yes he is inconsistent, but he has ability. Even though he paid for his seat, the seat he paid for was rubbish most of the time and yet he won a race. Can't really say how effective and dangerous he can be when his machine can barely outpace Claterhams these days.

I think he is in the wrong team, trouble is what team is the right one? Williams will never in a million years build a car&team around Maldonado and i don't think any of the higher up teams would either. That leaves Force India and Sauber as options, as Toro Rosso serves a different purpose.

It's probably too late for the guy, it would require a team to invest 2 years in him and he may or may not deliver another win. Personality and inconsistency are hurting him, and he lashed out at his own team out of frustration when he felt it wasn't launching his career, but he is probably the "pay-driverest" pay-driver ever, and yet he delivered more then almost all other pay-drivers combined. And he is an unapologetic racer, something i would like to see bothering the top 6 in any race.
Hmmm, another driver who may regret past confrontations with his team is Di Resta. o.O Personality and inconsistency are hurting him as well. But i digress...

Jocke1 · Post by **Jocke1** » 20 Oct 2013, 06:04

Onxy Wrecked wrote: So who will replace the Pastor?

Father O'Malley?

http://youtu.be/NhxToGSDgNk

wsrgo · Post by **wsrgo** » 20 Oct 2013, 06:24

Onxy Wrecked wrote: So who will replace the Pastor?

Barnabas the balmy?
Father Jetson?
Hannibal Lecter?

Post by **mario** » 20 Oct 2013, 07:17

giraurd wrote:Maldonado does actually deserve a seat in F1 by speed alone but I wouldn't feel sorry for him even if he lost his place, he's got a bit of a cock aura with him thanks to the smoothened road he's had. The others....well, won't miss ya.

As for Williams, reports say they were one of the richest midfield teams, so even if this rumour is true, it will cause major financial damage but will still be repairable..

That still doesn't leave them in a great financial position though given that most of the midfield is technically bankrupt. Their latest financial accounts indicate that they are loss making, that those losses are increasing (£5.6 million lost over the first half of 2013, compared to £4.6 million for the equivalent period in 2012) and that their revenue is effectively stagnant. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24013061

good_Ralf · Post by **good_Ralf** » 20 Oct 2013, 09:52

Onxy Wrecked wrote: So who will replace the Pastor?

Felipe Nasr! Jack Harvey! Jordan King!

Jocke1 · Post by **Jocke1** » 20 Oct 2013, 10:44

I remember before, before the victory. No one was here.
After the victory, everyone is looking for me. Everyone is here.

How many are there now, Pastor?

SgtPepper · Post by **SgtPepper** » 20 Oct 2013, 16:44

Jocke1 wrote:
I remember before, before the victory. No one was here.
After the victory, everyone is looking for me. Everyone is here.

How many are there now, Pastor?

I'd love to nab that avatar as mine seems to have stopped showing, but I think Pasta has first dibs

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 20 Oct 2013, 23:26

Onxy Wrecked wrote:So who will replace the Pastor?

Visconti · Post by **Visconti** » 21 Oct 2013, 01:09

dr-baker wrote:
Onxy Wrecked wrote:So who will replace the Pastor?

I'd rather Johnny Cecotto Jr. :oops:

Onxy Wrecked · Post by **Onxy Wrecked** » 21 Oct 2013, 02:30

dr-baker wrote:
Onxy Wrecked wrote:So who will replace the Pastor?

Who is that?!?

RonDenisDeletraz · Post by **RonDenisDeletraz** » 21 Oct 2013, 06:33

dr-baker wrote:
Onxy Wrecked wrote:So who will replace the Pastor?

No, she doesn't and never will deserve a F1 drive.

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 21 Oct 2013, 07:19

Onxy Wrecked wrote:So who will replace the Pastor?

Massa.

Alextrax52 · Post by **Alextrax52** » 21 Oct 2013, 08:08

dr-baker wrote:
Onxy Wrecked wrote:So who will replace the Pastor?

Obviously

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 21 Oct 2013, 09:21

Onxy Wrecked wrote:
dr-baker wrote:
Onxy Wrecked wrote:So who will replace the Pastor?

Who is that?!?

Seriously?

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 21 Oct 2013, 09:57

I think they should stick Wolff in the car for next year for a few reasons. Firstly, one way or another it will stop her annoying me by being the current token-female-driver-vying-for-an-F1 drive. Secondly, she wont need paying. Thirdly, she may end up doing OK, stranger things have happened. Fourthly, like it or not, she will earn Williams press coverage just by turning up. Lastly, irrespective of the many other drivers who 'deserve a seat', its unlikely whoever they employ will be troubling the podium next season so what the hell?

Onxy Wrecked · Post by **Onxy Wrecked** » 21 Oct 2013, 10:24

dr-baker wrote:

The PDVSA sponsorship sort of messed me up you see. And no, she doesn't belong in F1!

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 21 Oct 2013, 12:15

CoopsII wrote:I think they should stick Wolff in the car for next year for a few reasons. Firstly, one way or another it will stop her annoying me by being the current token-female-driver-vying-for-an-F1 drive. Secondly, she wont need paying. Thirdly, she may end up doing OK, stranger things have happened. Fourthly, like it or not, she will earn Williams press coverage just by turning up. Lastly, irrespective of the many other drivers who 'deserve a seat', its unlikely whoever they employ will be troubling the podium next season so what the hell?

And sixthly (Because your lastly was a fifthly), it would please the hell outta me!

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 21 Oct 2013, 15:05

dr-baker wrote:
CoopsII wrote:I think they should stick Wolff in the car for next year for a few reasons. Firstly, one way or another it will stop her annoying me by being the current token-female-driver-vying-for-an-F1 drive. Secondly, she wont need paying. Thirdly, she may end up doing OK, stranger things have happened. Fourthly, like it or not, she will earn Williams press coverage just by turning up. Lastly, irrespective of the many other drivers who 'deserve a seat', its unlikely whoever they employ will be troubling the podium next season so what the hell?

And sixthly (Because your lastly was a fifthly), it would please the hell outta me!

I do think people are being kinda sexist when they declare how Wolff has no place in F1, unless they are equally vehement against every other male driver who lucks into a seat for arguably the wrong reasons, which they generally don't. In terms of ability based on her career so far I'd agree she hasnt done enough to justify a race-seat but that many other male drivers have got a seat with a similar or worse career history.

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 21 Oct 2013, 15:08

CoopsII wrote:I do think people are being kinda sexist when they declare how Wolff has no place in F1, unless they are equally vehement against every other male driver who lucks into a seat for arguably the wrong reasons, which they generally don't. In terms of ability based on her career so far I'd agree she hasnt done enough to justify a race-seat but that many other male drivers have got a seat with a similar or worse career history.

While I do see your main point, I don't recall any F1 driver having as awful a career record as Susie Wolff has had, though I would certainly be willing to retract this statement if you proved it wrong.

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 21 Oct 2013, 15:09

Salamander wrote:
CoopsII wrote:I do think people are being kinda sexist when they declare how Wolff has no place in F1, unless they are equally vehement against every other male driver who lucks into a seat for arguably the wrong reasons, which they generally don't. In terms of ability based on her career so far I'd agree she hasnt done enough to justify a race-seat but that many other male drivers have got a seat with a similar or worse career history.

While I do see your main point, I don't recall any F1 driver having as awful a career record as Susie Wolff has had, though I would certainly be willing to retract this statement if you proved it wrong.

Off the top of my head and with no Wikipedia to hand I think Gaston Mazzacane was pretty awful en route to F1, but there have been others.

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 21 Oct 2013, 15:18

CoopsII wrote:
Salamander wrote:
CoopsII wrote:I do think people are being kinda sexist when they declare how Wolff has no place in F1, unless they are equally vehement against every other male driver who lucks into a seat for arguably the wrong reasons, which they generally don't. In terms of ability based on her career so far I'd agree she hasnt done enough to justify a race-seat but that many other male drivers have got a seat with a similar or worse career history.
While I do see your main point, I don't recall any F1 driver having as awful a career record as Susie Wolff has had, though I would certainly be willing to retract this statement if you proved it wrong.

Off the top of my head and with no Wikipedia to hand I think Gaston Mazzacane was pretty awful en route to F1, but there have been others.

That is true, but at least Mazzacane had been racing single seaters up to the point where he was hired as a test driver. Until the young driver test this year, Wolff hadn't turned a wheel in a single seater for over 8 years, I believe.

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 21 Oct 2013, 15:41

Salamander wrote:That is true, but at least Mazzacane had been racing single seaters up to the point where he was hired as a test driver. Until the young driver test this year, Wolff hadn't turned a wheel in a single seater for over 8 years, I believe.

Yeah and its a kinda sad indictment that we're weighing up the chances of a driver not even as good as Gaston Mazzacane getting a drive with multi champions Williams but it is what it is.

Jocke1 · Post by **Jocke1** » 21 Oct 2013, 15:57

Onxy Wrecked wrote: So who will replace the Pastor?

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 21 Oct 2013, 16:00

Onxy Wrecked wrote: So who will replace the Pastor?

Klon · Post by **Klon** » 21 Oct 2013, 16:08

dr-baker wrote:
Onxy Wrecked wrote:So who will replace the Pastor?

If Wolff gets a drive, I riot ... and then I complain online.

Jocke1 · Post by **Jocke1** » 21 Oct 2013, 17:06

CoopsII wrote:
Onxy Wrecked wrote: So who will replace the Pastor?

-It's time to call Joe Tanto.

-What's he doing?
-He's humming...

-Watch this, he's gonna do his coin bit.

Alextrax52 · Post by **Alextrax52** » 21 Oct 2013, 17:08

Jocke1 wrote:
CoopsII wrote:
Onxy Wrecked wrote: So who will replace the Pastor?

-It's time to call Joe Tanto.

-What's he doing?
-He's humming...

-Watch this, he's gonna do his coin bit.

One of the rare highlights of Driven

watka · Post by **watka** » 21 Oct 2013, 21:15

Onxy Wrecked wrote:So who will replace the Pastor?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8PC1_3fjvs

One for Cynon