Pastor Maldonado’s Italian Grand Prix ended when he pulled into his garage at the end of lap one, after he picked up terminal damage in a crash at the first corner.
The front suspension of Maldonado’s car was damaged after a trip across the sleeping policemen at the first corner, after contact with Nico Hulkenberg’s Force India pushed him through the chicane.
The Venezuelan – who started 10th due to penalties, having qualified 11th – and his teammate, Romain Grosjean, were both out of the race before lap three for the third time this season, which is not fantastic for a Lotus team with serious financial problems.
Maldonado, 30, was reported on Lotus’ website speaking on the race at Monza:
“It’s been a tough weekend and this is racing sometimes. We keep united and keep pushing as there are still seven Grands Prix to go so time to recover and keep fighting. I had contact in turn one where the Force India came into the side of me and took out my front-right suspension and that was the end of my race.
We were looking for a strong finish and we had potential for that. Everyone knows that turn one at Monza can be tough and that’s what we saw today.”
Next up is Singapore, in two weeks time, with Maldonado looking to add to the 12 world championship points he has collected so far. More pressingly, he, and Lotus, will be hoping to finish the race.
