Maldonado crashes during Caracas demo

Pastor Maldonado suffered acute embarrassment at the weekend when he spun out and damaged his car during a demo run in Caracas.

Maldonado has become a national icon in his home country since winning the Spanish Grand Prix earlier this year, the first time a Venezuelan has ever won a F1 race. However plans to do 12 runs past Los Proceres, Caracas' most renowned national monument, were brought to a premature end when the PDVSA-backed man crashed his Williams on just his second circuit.

Speaking ahead of the six-day trip to his home country with the Williams F1 team, Maldonado said: "I'm a proud Venezuelan and I can't wait to return home on the back of my win earlier this season at the Spanish Grand Prix. I have always received lots of support from my fellow countrymen and this trip is an opportunity to give something back to those in Venezuela who have helped me get to where I am today."

After Maldonado's early exit, it was left to Caterham F1 reserve driver and Venezuelan GP2 driver Rodolfo Gonzalez to give the crowd something to cheer about, and he did eight laps in his GP2 machine, before the heavens opened and all action ceased.

You can check out amateur footage of Maldonado's gaff and see the incident for yourself, HERE