Formula One drivers from Venezuela
{{short description|List of Formula One drivers from Venezuela}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox F1 nationality
|title = Formula One drivers from Venezuela
| image = Flag of Venezuela.svg
| caption =
|image_size =
|Drivers = 3
|Grands Prix = 120
|Entries = 120
|Starts = 114
|Highest season finish = 14th ({{F1|2015}})
|Wins = 1
|Podiums = 1
|Pole positions = 1
|Fastest laps = 0
|Points = 77
|First entry = 1960 Argentine Grand Prix
|First win = 2012 Spanish Grand Prix
|Last win = 2012 Spanish Grand Prix
|Last entry = 2015 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
|2025 = None
|2024 = None
}}
There have been 3 Formula One drivers from Venezuela.{{Cite web|url=https://www.statsf1.com/en/venezuela/pilote.aspx|title=Venezuela - Drivers |website=StatsF1.com|access-date=12 January 2019}}
Former drivers
File:Cecotto Toleman TG184 1984 Dallas F1.jpg.]]
File:Maldonado Qualifying (8093203052).jpg.]]
File:Pastor Maldonado 2014 Singapore FP1.jpg.]]
The first Venezuelan F1 racer was Ettore Chimeri.{{Cite web|url=http://www.statsf1.com/en/venezuela.aspx|title=Venezuela|website=StatsF1.com|access-date=14 December 2018}} He raced in one Grand Prix, the 1960 Argentine Grand Prix in a Maserati 250F, but retired due to fatigue.{{Cite web|url=https://www.statsf1.com/en/ettore-chimeri/grand-prix.aspx|title=Ettore CHIMERI - Grands Prix started |website=StatsF1.com|access-date=12 January 2019}} It was supposed to be the first of many entries for Chimeri, who was killed in practice for the Gran Premio Libertad sports car race in Havana, Cuba two weeks later.{{Cite web|url=http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/story/53088.html|title=Front row regulars|website=ESPN UK|language=en|access-date=12 January 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.statsf1.com/en/ettore-chimeri.aspx|title=Ettore CHIMERI |website=StatsF1.com|language=fr|access-date=12 January 2019}}
Accomplished motorcycle racer Johnny Cecotto made his debut in Formula One with Theodore Racing at the 1983 Brazilian Grand Prix.{{Cite web|url=https://www.statsf1.com/en/johnny-cecotto/grand-prix.aspx|title=Johnny CECOTTO - Grands Prix started |website=StatsF1.com|access-date=12 January 2019}} He scored his only points in the following race, however the luck didn't last as the team was forced to pull out of the sport before the penultimate race of the 1983 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.statsf1.com/en/johnny-cecotto/point.aspx|title=Johnny CECOTTO - Points |website=StatsF1.com|access-date=12 January 2019}} Cecotto landed a drive alongside debutant Ayrton Senna at Toleman for 1984, but was a classified finisher in only one of the ten races he participated in that season.{{Cite web|url=http://forix.autosport.com/8w/theodore.html|title=8W - What? - Theodore|website=forix.autosport.com|access-date=12 January 2019}} His final appearance was the 1984 British Grand Prix.
27 years later, Pastor Maldonado made his Formula One debut for Williams at the 2011 Australian Grand Prix.{{Cite web|url=https://www.statsf1.com/en/pastor-maldonado.aspx|title=Pastor MALDONADO |website=StatsF1.com|access-date=12 January 2019}} He spent his first 3 seasons in Formula One with the team, and quickly became known for his overly aggressive style of racing.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/35486601|title=Pastor Maldonado: Why F1 will miss 'Crashtor'|date=4 February 2016|work=BBC Sport|access-date=12 January 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.statsf1.com/en/pastor-maldonado/saison.aspx|title=Pastor MALDONADO - Seasons |website=StatsF1.com|access-date=12 January 2019}} He raced for Lotus in 2014 and 2015, struggling with a mid-field car. Maldonado's career was heavily reliant on PDVSA backing, and when the Venezuelan economy went bust in early 2016, Renault (who had bought back Lotus in the off-season) opted out of keeping him on for the upcoming season and he was replaced by Kevin Magnussen.{{Cite web|url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/121002/renault-to-stop-lotus-administration|title=Renault to step in and save Lotus F1 team from administration|last=Parkes|first=Ian|website=Autosport.com|language=en|access-date=12 January 2019}}{{cite web|last1=Edmondson|first1=Laurence|title=Pastor Maldonado confirms F1 exit|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/f1/story/_/id/14690748/pastor-maldonado-confirms-drive-f1-2016|publisher=ESPN|access-date=21 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202083203/http://www.espn.co.uk/f1/story/_/id/14690748/pastor-maldonado-confirms-drive-f1-2016|archive-date=2 February 2016|date=1 February 2016}} The highlight of his career was an unlikely pole position{{cite web | url=https://f1blast.com/the-story-of-3-venezuelan-f1-drivers/ | title=The Story of 3 Venezuelan F1 Drivers - F1 BLAST | date=14 May 2024 }} and win at the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix, becoming the first (and so far only) Venezuelan to take victory in a Grand Prix.{{Cite web|url=https://www.statsf1.com/en/venezuela/victoire.aspx|title=Venezuela - Wins |website=StatsF1.com|access-date=12 January 2019}}
{{Gallery
|align=center
|File:Pastor Maldonado 2015 Malaysia.jpg|Pastor Maldonado
}}
Timeline
| class="wikitable" border="1"
!colspan=2| Former drivers |
| Ettore Chimeri
|{{F1|1960}} |
| Johnny Cecotto
|{{F1|1983}}–{{F1|1984}} |
| Pastor Maldonado
|{{F1|2011}}–{{F1|2015}} |
| colspan="2" |Source:{{Cite web|url=http://www.statsf1.com/en/venezuela/grand-prix.aspx|title=Venezuela - Grands Prix started |website=StatsF1.com|access-date=6 January 2019}} |
|---|
See also
{{clear}}