The death of Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez has been the topic of many Op/Ed pieces over the last 24 hours. Actor Sean Penn and film producer Oliver Stone have offered their condolences on the loss of Chavez whom they considered a hero and friend.
The death of Chavez does impact Formula One and in particular, Williams F1. Their driver, Pastor Maldonado, is backed by PDVSA which is a Venezuelan owned oil company. Chavez was keen to use the companies clout and cash to sponsor Maldonado and place a Venezuelan on the grid.
For Williams F1’s part, they offered this statement:
6th March 2013. Grove, UK. In the wake of yesterday’s announcement that Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías, President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, has passed away after a long battle with cancer, the Williams F1 Team sends its deepest condolences to the family of President Chávez and the people of Venezuela.
