According to Autosport, Pastor Maldonado is set to leave the newly branded Renault team and will be replaced by former McLaren driver Kevin Magnussen.
Magnussen hasn’t raced in Formula One since the Australian Grand Prix in 2015 and hasn’t participated in a full season since 2014.
On the other hand, Maldonado has one Grand Prix win to his name. He won the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix whilst driving for Williams.
The reason of Maldonado’s departure is believed to be tied in with sponsorship problems. It is believed that Renault and PDVSA, a state-owned oil company which is a long-term sponsor of the Venezuelan, have had a disagreement.
Magnussen, 23, was dropped by McLaren four months ago, on the Dane’s birthday. Now, he is expected to return to F1 racing, this time in a Renault.
Maldonado has spent five years racing in Formula One, scoring one win and one pole position.
The only chance that Maldonado could remain in F1 for 2016 would be to sign for Manor Racing, although negotiations would most likely be too late for a seat to be confirmed.
Lotus confirmed that Maldonado would stay on for the 2016 season, at last year’s Singapore Grand Prix.
Renault were supposedly happy for Maldonado to stay on for 2016, but sponsorship issues have forced the Grand Prix winner to leave the sport.
