28/01/2016
NEWS STORY
When Lotus (as was) announced the Venezuelan and rookie Jolyon Palmer as its drivers for 2016 - at the height of negotiations with Renault which was looking to buy into the Enstone-based team - many wondered whether the French manufacturer - should it complete the deal - would retain the line-up.
Whilst popular with fans, and a proven winner, Maldonado has earned a reputation for his reckless approach, to the extent that a website 'hasmaldonadocrashedtoday' was set up in his honour.
However, it isn't the Venezuelan driver's reputation that looks likely to cost him the Renault drive but problems with sponsor PDVSA.
In recent weeks it has been claimed the Venezuelan state oil company, which bankrolls the driver to the tune of an estimated £20m a year, has fallen behind in its payments to Lotus.
Venezuela, already suffering its worst recession in seventy years, which has seen shortages of basic goods such as toilet paper and cooking oil, the collapse of its currency and its international reserves drop to a 12-year low, has been further rocked by the global oil glut.
As previously reported, the man most likely to lead the Enstone team is Kevin Magnussen, who was dropped by McLaren as test and reserve driver last year, the likeable Dane being advised by text message on his birthday.
It's understood as well as meetings with PDVSA, Renault bosses have also met with Magnussen in recent weeks.
The team is due to host a press conference next Wednesday at which its 2016 livery will be unveiled, many now believing that Magnussen will be named as lead driver at the same time.
Naturally, none of the parties involved is willing to comment at this stage.