"Crashtor?" Madonado worst diver ever?

[Jonnycraig]

Worth pointing out that although it has been long swept under the carpet, in 2005 Maldonado was given a lifetime ban from Monaco after ignoring double waved yellows and hitting a Marshall, breaking the guys back. After certain wealthy and influential figures stepped in, it was downgraded to a 9 race ban on appeal.

[Glyn]

Well it is quite hard lining up on the grid correctly....

[Whodeany13]

Wow!! Great opening laps in Bahrain Crashtor Mighthaveago. It is almost dangerous to have someone so untalented out there driving so erratically like that yet AGAIN... I know the whole financial crisis in F1 at the moment, but c'mon... I feel for all the people with true talent that have done it the hard way and have nowhere to go, because seats in F1 are taken by these muppet/s with cash!!

Bernie, give back to the sport that's given you so much!!

[Edax]

I think any discussion of F1's worst is incomplete without at least a passing mention of Yuji Ide, a driver so challenged by the notion that only a single car can safely occupy any given space at any given time that the FIA revoked his Super License after only four races.

LOL almost forgot about Ide.

Another honorable mention would be Andrea de "Crasheris" Cesaris. I think he has had more crashes than most drivers have races.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPe0t02dWF4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA1qAmz30mw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GiFfcClDnY

But it has to be said except for some stupid actions he also showed some genuinly good racing.plus he was at one time driving what I personally find one of the best looking cars out there.


I don't know. De Cesaris was certainly not the best at looking in his mirrors and maintaining oversight of the cars around him. But I think that part of his problem was that he was compensating not having the best car out there by driving it harder than everyone else. That often got him into problems.

Perhaps that is the same for Maldonado.

[nokivasara]

I find Maldonado quite enjoyable, he always manages to put himself in situations that couldn't be made up. It's like he knows that it wont work but still goes for it, as if his temper gets the best of him and he drives around in anger, trying to overtake everone everywhere as quickly as possible. Like Grosjean a few years ago.
Some of his moves are pretty nice and so close to work but most of the time he ends up taking the escape route.
If he could calm down a litte maybe he turns out to be as good as Massa

[ESPImperium]

Id love to let Sergio Canamassas loose in a mid pack F1 car just for the giggles. Add Checotto Jr in the mix as well?

Then we would be able to see if Maldanado was truly the worst.

[threep]

I think Maldonado has genuine pace. The problem is he doesn't have the bandwidth to think clearly and keep his emotions in check. Today he should have finished 7th or 8th but for a couple of brain farts.

[Wayne DR]

LOL almost forgot about Ide.

Another honorable mention would be Andrea de "Crasheris" Cesaris. I think he has had more crashes than most drivers have races.

Ide only had 4 starts (so it is a bit harsh to include him, but yes, he was a bit of a "gumby"), and the cars in de Cesaris' time (80's and early 90's) were a lot more unreliable. When de Cesaris had a good car he either got in the points or crashed, so he does hold the record (136 DNFs)...

Below is a summary:

Pastor Maldonado - '11 to present
Starts: 81
Finishes "in the Points": 8 (9.9%)
DNFs: 28 (34.6%)

Andre de Cesaris - '80 to '94
Starts: 211
Finishes "in the Points": 22 (10.4%)
DNFs: 136 (64.5%)

Others in the running:

Adrian Campos - '87 & '88
Starts: 17
Finishes "in the Points": 0
DNFs: 14 (82%)

Yuji Ide - '05
Starts: 4
Finishes "in the Points": 0
DNFs: 3 (75%)

Taki Inoue - '94 & '95
Starts: 18
Finishes "in the Points": 0
DNFs: 13 (72%)

Luca Badoer - '93, '95, '96, '99 & '09
Starts: 50
Finishes "in the Points": 0
DNFs: 25 (50%)

[Whodeany13]

Moldynado has pace???

His car has pace (now)... He just thinks it's a game and plays Arcade style from the start (forgetting that damage is set on real). Even sitting on the grid the guy looks like he's in an accident or looking for one!! Grosean (from memory) was given a 2 race ban for the first corner accident at Spa a few years ago (for driving like Pasta), difference being, he learnt from his mistakes and improved. Pasta hasn't changed in any way, still as reckless and look at the casualties he takes with him on his cash fuelled endeavours... His start/DNF ratio doesn't appear that bad because he doesn't always DNF, but more like a cyclone, creates havoc on it's way through.

I also remember seeing somewhere on here the driver penalty points for this year, and yes he is leading that at the moment too, with another cashed up driver (Ericsson). Maybe this is the crown he thinks he is chasing... Cos he's giving that championship a real good crack!!

Lets face it, if it wasn't for PDVSA and Venezuela he wouldn't be where he is now. Fact!! Get rid of him from F1 for a Jolyon Palmer or someone deserving from a feeder series, with pedigree and talent! How many years has Pasta Carbonara been trying, it's time he went! Before more viewers do.

[Wayne DR]

Lets face it, if it wasn't for PDVSA and Venezuela he wouldn't be where he is now. Fact!! Get rid of him from F1 for a Jolyon Palmer or someone deserving from a feeder series, with pedigree and talent!

This is where the sport is at unfortunately, genuine talent (i.e. Jolyon Palmer) can't get drives as they don't come with $$$, and hacks and also-rans (i.e. Marcus Ericson, Pastor Maldonado) get drives and don't perform. This is supposed to be the 20 best drivers on the planet...

How much did Ericson pay Sauber, 15 Million Euro? Who needs sponsors, just go and hire yourself 5 or 6 drivers! (...and then get your hand stuck in the cookie jar by van de Garde. OOPS! Honestly, how did they see that one playing out?)

We used to have "Privateers" rather than "Pay Drivers", and the system worked. If you could drive, you would Qualify to race, score some points and eventually a big team would pick you up. If you couldn't drive, you wouldn't Qualify, not race, get bored and go away...

[Whodeany13]

Lets face it, if it wasn't for PDVSA and Venezuela he wouldn't be where he is now. Fact!! Get rid of him from F1 for a Jolyon Palmer or someone deserving from a feeder series, with pedigree and talent!

This is where the sport is at unfortunately, genuine talent (i.e. Jolyon Palmer) can't get drives as they don't come with $$$, and hacks and also-rans (i.e. Marcus Ericson, Pastor Maldonado) get drives and don't perform. This is supposed to be the 20 best drivers on the planet...

How much did Ericson pay Sauber, 15 Million Euro? Who needs sponsors, just go and hire yourself 5 or 6 drivers! (...and then get your hand stuck in the cookie jar by van de Garde. OOPS! Honestly, how did they see that one playing out?)

We used to have "Privateers" rather than "Pay Drivers", and the system worked. If you could drive, you would Qualify to race, score some points and eventually a big team would pick you up. If you couldn't drive, you wouldn't Qualify, not race, get bored and go away...

I couldn't agree more!! Bernie and the CVC have a lot to answer for, the prizemoney pay scale is just horrendous. And what Bernie has done to Manor/Marrusia after what they did in Australia (you will never see them get airtime even if they are the first and only out on the track, to prevent potential sponsors buying into the team). Jules Bianchi (wish him all the best) earnt that 9th place in the constructors and is therefor their money. No German GP because of no $$$ agreement. C'mon stop being so hungry!!

I'm sure there is another thread on this type of thing and how it's destroying the sport. I've watched F1 since 1989, almost every race (would tape them as a kid) and I remember privateer teams and drivers coming through that way and the racing was FANTASTIC!!

All motorsport has gone this Bernie route, I have a friend that has been offered drives with V8 Supercars here in Australia and has had to knock it back as he couldnt raise the $800,000AUD to get the drive for a year, and he was 2nd in the feeder series last year and leading it so far this year. Motorsport unfortunately is out of reach to probably a lot of really talented people.

F1 though, is making $Billions. It doesn't have to be this way... Teams should have as you say the 20 best drivers in the world!! Not drivers with little talent but huge sponsors just so the team can stay in the sport Talent used to bring money.

[nokivasara]

LOL almost forgot about Ide.

Another honorable mention would be Andrea de "Crasheris" Cesaris. I think he has had more crashes than most drivers have races.

Ide only had 4 starts (so it is a bit harsh to include him, but yes, he was a bit of a "gumby"), and the cars in de Cesaris' time (80's and early 90's) were a lot more unreliable. When de Cesaris had a good car he either got in the points or crashed, so he does hold the record (136 DNFs)...

Below is a summary:

Pastor Maldonado - '11 to present
Starts: 81
Finishes "in the Points": 8 (9.9%)
DNFs: 28 (34.6%)

Andre de Cesaris - '80 to '94
Starts: 211
Finishes "in the Points": 22 (10.4%)
DNFs: 136 (64.5%)

Others in the running:

Adrian Campos - '87 & '88
Starts: 17
Finishes "in the Points": 0
DNFs: 14 (82%)

Yuji Ide - '05
Starts: 4
Finishes "in the Points": 0
DNFs: 3 (75%)

Taki Inoue - '94 & '95
Starts: 18
Finishes "in the Points": 0
DNFs: 13 (72%)

Luca Badoer - '93, '95, '96, '99 & '09
Starts: 50
Finishes "in the Points": 0
DNFs: 25 (50%)

Maldonado would probably have much higher DNF ratio if we still had gravel traps, just look at the start of yesterdays race!
In fact, the paved run off areas may be a part of the reason why we have drivers that just doesn't learn. They know that if they run out of road they just need to steer back and rejoin the race.

[SectorOne]

Taki is an international treasure, you can´t include him in any comparisons.

[Nathanael F1]

LOL almost forgot about Ide.

Another honorable mention would be Andrea de "Crasheris" Cesaris. I think he has had more crashes than most drivers have races.

Ide only had 4 starts (so it is a bit harsh to include him, but yes, he was a bit of a "gumby"), and the cars in de Cesaris' time (80's and early 90's) were a lot more unreliable. When de Cesaris had a good car he either got in the points or crashed, so he does hold the record (136 DNFs)...

Below is a summary:

Pastor Maldonado - '11 to present
Starts: 81
Finishes "in the Points": 8 (9.9%)
DNFs: 28 (34.6%)

Andre de Cesaris - '80 to '94
Starts: 211
Finishes "in the Points": 22 (10.4%)
DNFs: 136 (64.5%)
...

I don't think it can be compared by just looking at stats. F1 has changed a lot throughout the years - generally fewer DNFs overall. I think it should be compared with the average DNFs of the entire F1 grid during that season.

[r_b_l]

LOL almost forgot about Ide.

Another honorable mention would be Andrea de "Crasheris" Cesaris. I think he has had more crashes than most drivers have races.

Ide only had 4 starts (so it is a bit harsh to include him, but yes, he was a bit of a "gumby"), and the cars in de Cesaris' time (80's and early 90's) were a lot more unreliable. When de Cesaris had a good car he either got in the points or crashed, so he does hold the record (136 DNFs)...

Below is a summary:

Pastor Maldonado - '11 to present
Starts: 81
Finishes "in the Points": 8 (9.9%)
DNFs: 28 (34.6%)

Andre de Cesaris - '80 to '94
Starts: 211
Finishes "in the Points": 22 (10.4%)
DNFs: 136 (64.5%)
...

I don't think it can be compared by just looking at stats. F1 has changed a lot throughout the years - generally fewer DNFs overall. I think it should be compared with the average DNFs of the entire F1 grid during that season.

And also the type of DNF. If you deduct the mechanical, Engine, suspension DNF's and focus on Crashes and Spins.

Looking at Maldonado stats, 10 of those DNF's were caused by an "accident" or a crash.

The majority of Andre's appear to be car failures, and a wide variety of them, as mentioned above. 38 appear to be crashes, accidents or spins.


So Pastor currently has about a 35% chance his DNF will be a result of a crash.

Andre's crashes equated for approx 27% of his DNF's.