From the depths of 2011, Williams is now 'not far' from the pace of F1's strongest teams. That is the claim of Pastor Maldonado, who in the newly Renault-powered and Mike Coughlan-designed FW34 qualified eighth and was pushing Fernando Alonso for fifth in the race when he crashed out of Sunday's season opener in Melbourne on the last lap.
It indicated a major turnaround for the formerly championship-winning team that collapsed to a dismal ninth place in last year's points standings.
Venezuelan Maldonado hopes last Sunday was indeed the start of a Williams resurgence. He said this weekend in Malaysia should be interesting."McLaren and Red Bull look strong, but we are not far away," he is quoted by Finland's Turun Sanomat. "We were very close to (Red Bull's) Mark Webber in the first and second stints," said Maldonado. "I think we are faster than Ferrari, Sauber and Force India," he added.
Maldonado's last-lap crash in Australia cost Williams a full ten points -- double the team's tally of the entire 2011 season. "We need points in the future," he acknowledged, "but we are also now more relaxed now." (GMM)
Maldonado: "Williams is faster than Ferrari at the moment"
- Published on 21 Mar 2012 08:27
-
0
- By: Rob Veenstra
.
Trending news
-
Why Bernie Ecclestone thinks Formula 1 is heading the wrong wayBernie Ecclestone has launched a broadside against Formula 1's current trajectory, arguing that the sport has los...
29 Jun 2026 16:21 -
What Verstappen really thinks about Antonelli's championship leadMax Verstappen has described Andrea Kimi Antonelli's championship-leading rookie season at Mercedes as "some...
29 Jun 2026 15:19 -
Is Webber already planning Piastri's Red Bull escape route?Oscar Piastri's manager Mark Webber is preparing contingency plans for the Australian driver to leave McLaren, ac...
29 Jun 2026 14:17 -
Red Bull intensifies talks with Verstappen's manager as exit loomsRed Bull Racing held another round of talks with Max Verstappen's manager Raymond Vermeulen on Saturday, seeking ...
29 Jun 2026 13:16 -
What Zak Brown really said about signing Max VerstappenZak Brown has addressed speculation linking Max Verstappen to McLaren for the first time, stating that while he has n...
29 Jun 2026 12:14
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
Test calendar
Circuit de Catalunya - Winter testing
-
Jan 26
I. Hadjar
- 1:18.159
-
-
-
Jan 27
M. Verstappen
- 1:19.578
-
-
-
Jan 28
A. Antonelli
- 1:17.362
-
-
-
Jan 29
G. Russell
- 1:16.445
-
-
-
Jan 30
L. Hamilton
- 1:16.348
-
-
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
-
Feb 11
L. Norris
- 1:34.669
-
-
-
Feb 12
C. Leclerc
- 1:34.273
-
-
-
Feb 13
A. Antonelli
- 1:33.669
-
-
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
-
Feb 18
G. Russell
- 1:33.459
-
-
Feb 19
A. Antonelli
- 1:32.803
-
-
Feb 20
C. Leclerc
- 1:31.992
-
-
World Championship standings 2026
Pos
Driver
Team
Points
Pos
Team
Points
Related news
Give your opinion!
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
-
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
-
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia
Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
26 - Jun 28
Austria
Red Bull Ring
Driver profile
- Team Aston Martin
- Points 629
- Podiums 9
- Grand Prix 199
- Country ES
- Date of b. Jul 29 1981 (44)
- Place of b. Oviedo, ES
- Weight 68 kg
- Length 1.71 m
- 187,791 comments on Aston Martin
78 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Fernando Alonso
Team profile
- Team name Force India
- Base Silverstone, India
- Sergio Perez 11
- Sergio Perez 11
- Nico Hülkenberg 12
- Adrian Sutil 14
- Adrian Sutil 15
- Lance Stroll 18
- Adrian Sutil 20
- Nico Hülkenberg 27
- Nico Hülkenberg 27
- Esteban Ocon 31
- Esteban Ocon 31
- 96,021 comments on Force India
- 8 members have this team as their favourite
- Tweets about Force India
Replies (0)
Login to reply