CULT HEROES: Pastor Maldonado on taking ‘all the risks necessary’, his Spanish GP victory and ‘very special’ fan following In the first of our Cult Heroes features, F1.com chats to Pastor Maldonado about his time in the sport, his determined driving style and his popularity with fans. Over the years, a select group of Formula 1 drivers have left their mark on the sport by becoming something of a cult hero. The reasons for earning such a tag can vary; perhaps they pulled off an against-the-odds result, had a driving style that made them a hit with fans, or coupled their on-track exploits with a memorable personality off it. One name that has frequently been attached to the label – and ticks all of the above boxes – is Pastor Maldonado. While he only competed in the sport for five seasons, the Venezuelan remains a popular figure amongst fans thanks to his determined approach to racing and an unforgettable underdog victory. In the first of our Cult Heroes features, F1.com chats to Maldonado about his time in Formula 1, the roots of his passionate driving style, and how it feels to still be a cult hero to fans – both old and new – more than 10 years after his last race… Arriving in F1 after a ‘very tough’ early career “I think the most valuable thing is the people surrounding Formula 1, from the fans to the team principals and drivers, but also all the team members,” says Pastor Maldonado as he reflects on how current-day F1 compares to his own stint in the sport. “When the teams are looking for mechanics, technicians, engineers, they are the best, and the best not only in terms of quality but in terms of passion, because what runs Formula 1 is the