Venezuela F1 driver flies flag for socialist Chavez

CARACAS, (Reuters) – As an admirer and friend of  Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez, new kid on the block Pastor  Maldonado will bring a rare dash of socialism to the  ultra-moneyed world of Formula One next season.

Maldonado, frequently pictured at Chavez’s side including  during a visit to flood victims this week, will race for former  champions Williams in 2011 after winning this year’s GP2 support  series.

The 25-year-old told Reuters that sport and politics could  mix happily together.

“Sport should not be kept away from politics, it should be  supported, like happens in Venezuela,” he said.

State oil company PDVSA, whose oil revenues have financed  Chavez’s decade-long “21st century socialism” experiment in the  South American nation, is Maldonado’s main local sponsor.

“We’re backing Pastor Maldonado and his team via PDVSA, so  he can race round the world and show what he’s made of,” the  sports-loving Chavez said this week, recalling that he approved  funding for the driver early on his career.

State phone company CANTV, which the ever-controversial  Chavez nationalized in 2007, also backs Maldonado.
The driver has been feted as a national hero, and socialist  symbol for the state, since securing the race seat.

“The sporting feats we have achieved in the last few years  in this country are thanks to support that was never there  before,” Maldonado said of the government’s sports projects.

“Athletes are more important now and are valued more  highly….I’m delighted with the support President Chavez has  given me, not just economic but moral too. That’s what most  motivates a sportsman to defend his national colors.”

Maldonado, who runs a foundation for poor children in  Venezuela, will team up with Brazilian Rubens Barrichello at  Williams. The team last won a race in 2004 and finished sixth  overall this year.