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Pastor Maldonado spins after taking eyes off the road... and then crashes in the pit-lane at Chinese Grand Prix

Written By JAK on Friday, April 18, 2014 | 9:15 PM


  • Pastor Maldonado distracted after making adjustments to his steering wheel 
  • The Lotus driver then binned his car on the entrance to the pit-lane 
  • Maldonado will already serve a five-place grid drop in China after causing the crash with Esteban Gutierrez in Bahrain
  • Pastor Maldonado arrived at the Chinese Grand Prix with a five-place grid penalty after sending the Sauber of Esteban Gutierrez into a jaw-dropping flip in Bahrain.

    And the error-prone Venezuelan was back in the wars on Friday – firstly spinning while making adjustments to his steering wheel, and then crashing on his entrance into the pit-lane.

    The Lotus driver, who has been involved in a number of high-profile incidents during his time in Formula One, rather embarrassingly spun at turn 9 after getting distracted by taking his eyes off the road and adjusting the dials on his steering wheel.

    Watch where you're going, Pastor: Maldonado heads towards the gravel after taking his eyes off the road

    Watch where you're going, Pastor: Maldonado heads towards the gravel after taking his eyes off the road

    Off she goes: The error-prone Maldonado tries to correct his error... but it is too late

    Off she goes: The error-prone Maldonado tries to correct his error... but it is too late

    Down and out: The Venezuelan, who will serve a five-place grid drop in Shanghai, is sent into a spin

    Down and out: The Venezuelan, who will serve a five-place grid drop in Shanghai, is sent into a spin

    Instead of sweeping left, Maldonado went straight on, subsequently catching the dirt before being sent into a spin. Fortunately for the former Williams driver, he escaped without any significant dame to his Lotus.

    But his luck run out in the second practice session ahead of Sunday's race when he binned his Lotus on his entrance to the pits.

    The 29-year-old had to jump out of his Lotus and take the rather embarrassing walk back down the pit-lane and to his garage, after telling his team: 'I crashed, sorry.'

    Maldonado however, isn't the first driver to lose control of his car on the entrance to the pit-lane in Shanghai.

    Off the road: Maldonado is beached in the gravel on the entrance to the pit-lane

    Off the road: Maldonado is beached in the gravel on the entrance to the pit-lane

    Coming in: Maldonado locks up his front-left tyre and then runs into the gravel on the entrance to the pits

    Coming in: Maldonado locks up his front-left tyre and then runs into the gravel on the entrance to the pits

    Bad day at the office: The 29-year-old loses control of his Lotus before heading to the tyre wall

    Bad day at the office: The 29-year-old loses control of his Lotus before heading to the tyre wall

    In the pits: The error-prone driver came over the team radio to inform his mechanics that he had 'crashed'

    In the pits: The error-prone driver came over the team radio to inform his mechanics that he had 'crashed'

    Lewis Hamilton infamously threw away his chances of winning the world championship in his maiden season when he retired in the pit-lane barrier.

    But at least the Briton could blame his incident on worn tyres in inclement conditions. Maldonado however, can have no such excuses.

    Maldonado was handed three penalties by the stewards after the stunning incident at the Bahrian Grand Prix which saw Gutierrez roll his Sauber.

    Roll over: Pastor Maldonado t-bones Esteban Gutierrez thus launching the Sauber airborne

    Roll over: Pastor Maldonado t-bones Esteban Gutierrez thus launching the Sauber airborne

    The Lotus driver clumsily t-boned Gutierrez as he exited the pits, subsequently flipping the Sauber airborne.

    Maldonado was handed a ten second stop-and-go penalty during the race by the stewards, and a five-place grid penalty to be served in Shanghai.

    As a further punishment, he was also given three penalty points on his licence. Nine more and he'll be hit with a one-race ban.

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