Maldonado regrets sabotage claims towards Williams

Pastor Maldonado has admitted it was "wrong" to publicly accuse Williams of sabotage. After a poor qualifying in Austin - the first race since the Venezuelan's decision to leave the Grove based team was announced - Maldonado said he suspected mechanics had tampered with his tyre pressures and temperatures.

"Sure, it was wrong of me to say it," he is quoted by Speed Week, "because for three years I respected them, and they respected me. I was stressed on the first weekend after the announcement that I am leaving the team," explained Maldonado, who has been linked with a move to Lotus. You come to the end of the season and you are stressed, but only because I want more and I want to give 100 per cent, but I'm limited by the car. Sometimes you say more than you should," he added.

He insisted he has "a few very good friends" at Williams, who are "perhaps the only friends I have in formula one, and together we had maybe the best time of my career, but perhaps the worst. "It was not easy for me to leave the team because I have very good friends here," Maldonado continued. There are certainly people who I do not like and maybe they don't like me too. This is a family, and there can always be differences. Now it's too late and I'm leaving, but I wish them the best," he added. (GMM)

Replies (0)

Login to reply

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

Test calendar

See full test schedule

World Championship standings 2026

Show full world champion standings

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
6 - Mar 8
Australia
13 - Mar 15
China
27 - Mar 29
Japan
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
1 - May 3
United States of America
22 - May 24
Canada
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
12 - Jun 14
Spain
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
10 - Apr 12
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
5 - Jun 7
Monaco Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Renault
  • Points 27
  • Podiums 0
  • Grand Prix 19
  • Country VE
  • Date of b. Mar 9 1985 (41)
  • Place of b. Maracay, Aragua, VE
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.73 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar