Maldonado: Massa at Williams, “a good decision”
Holder at Williams for three seasons, Pastor Maldonado believes that his replacement, Felipe Massa, made the right decision for himself and that it will allow the team to come back more to the forefront.
Engaged by Lotus for the 2014 season, Pastor Maldonado has left the Williams team, for which he raced for three seasons from 2011 to 2013. The Venezuelan driver has been replaced in the Grove team by Felipe Massa, who, on his side, has left the Ferrari team where he raced since 2006.
For Maldonado, the Brazilian’s decision to join Williams F1 is a good choice: « I spoke with Felipe and I think he made the right decision. » A decision primarily motivated by the need for a change of environment, according to the new Lotus driver: « First, just for the change because he hasn’t had success with Ferrari in recent years, » he explained to the Brazilian site TotalRace.
Not sure, however, that he wouldn’t achieve more success within the team led by Claire Williams: « It is also true that Williams has spent many years without major successes, but I think the team can start to regain its former position. » Williams’ last victory dates back to the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix, won precisely by Pastor Maldonado after starting from pole position. On the other hand, in the championship, Williams hasn’t won any titles since 1997, when Jacques Villeneuve clinched the drivers’ championship and the team the constructors’ championship.
« I’m not talking about winning, but about consistently being in the points and performing at the level of Sauber or the other midfield teams, » cautiously states the man backed by PDVSA, before concluding: « Felipe is a good driver, and Williams is a good team. I see no reason why they shouldn’t have a good season. »
The Williams team will field, for 2014, a driver duo consisting of Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas. The two men will have a lot to do to turn things around within a team that struggled to score points in /f1/actualite/16679-officiel-pastor-maldonado-rejoint-romain-grosjean-chez-lotus.html. However, they can count on significant reinforcements, starting with aerodynamic engineers coming from Lotus or Red Bull.
