The oddest element of the 2012 season so far is that the unlikeliest of candidates could now be genuine title contenders. Before the Spanish grand prix weekend, Pastor Maldonado was a commonly derided 'pay driver' with 500-1 odds of winning in Barcelona, and just a single point to his name in 2011.
Now, he is F1's newest pole-getter and race victor, and genuinely regarded as a potential contender for the world championship. And Dr Helmut Marko, the reigning world champion Red Bull's motor racing manager, said: "If the Williams really has traction that good, then Maldonado will run rings around everyone in Monte Carlo," he is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport.
Maldonado travelled straight from Spain to Caracus, where he was being quizzed by the local media as to his chances of a back-to-back victory repeat in Monaco next weekend. "I think it's going to be a great opportunity for us to be strong again," he said. (GMM)
New winner Maldonado looks for Monaco repeat
- Published on 17 May 2012 11:10
-
0
- By: Rob Veenstra
.
Trending news
-
Schumacher Says Hamilton Should Step Aside for Bearman at FerrariRalf Schumacher has made a direct call: Lewis Hamilton's time at Ferrari should end after this season, and Oliver...
07 May 2026 16:22 -
'Newey Hospitalised as Aston Martin Struggle On'Adrian Newey's arrival at Aston Martin was supposed to be the beginning of the team's transformation into a g...
07 May 2026 15:20 -
Antonelli's Miami Win Gives Mercedes a Historic Podium RecordAndrea Kimi Antonelli's victory in Miami was not just another win in a dominant run of results. It also moved Mer...
07 May 2026 14:19 -
Horner Rules Out Alpine Return and Compares Marquez to VerstappenChristian Horner has been out of Formula 1 since Red Bull removed him from his team principal role last year, and he ...
07 May 2026 13:18 -
Red Bull Admit the Weight Problem Was Fixed Too Late but Promise More Progress by AustriaMax Verstappen knew something was wrong with the RB22 from the very first lap of the season. Red Bull have now formal...
07 May 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
Driver profile
- Team Renault
- Points 27
- Podiums 0
- Grand Prix 19
- Country Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)
- Date of b. Mar 9 1985 (41)
- Place of b. Maracay, Aragua, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)
- Weight 68 kg
- Length 1.73 m
- 27,547 comments on Renault
9 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Pastor Maldonado
Team profile
- Team name Williams
- Base Grove, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
- Jacques Villeneuve 1
- Logan Sargeant 2
- Ayrton Senna 2
- Jacques Villeneuve 3
- Nicholas Latifi 6
- Jacques Villeneuve 6
- Nico Rosberg 7
- Nico Hülkenberg 10
- Nico Rosberg 10
- Jenson Button 10
- Pastor Maldonado 12
- Pastor Maldonado 16
- Nico Rosberg 16
- Nico Rosberg 16
- Valtteri Bottas 17
- Lance Stroll 18
- Pastor Maldonado 18
- Felipe Massa 19
- Alexander Albon 23
- Sergey Sirotkin 35
- Nyck de Vries 45
- Carlos Sainz jr 55
- George Russell 63
- Valtteri Bottas 77
- Robert Kubica 88
- 161,152 comments on Williams
- 38 members have this team as their favourite
- Tweets about Williams
Replies (0)
Login to reply