Pastor Maldonado has admitted he is looking forward to Lotus' switch from Renault to Mercedes power for 2015. The Venezuelan has said consistently this year he does not regret moving last winter from Williams to the Enstone-based team.
But almost a full season on, while Williams made an impressive leap from the rear of the midfield to the upper grid hatchings in 2014, Lotus' reverse in fortunes has been just as dramatic. It means Maldonado's best hope now is that Lotus can perform a similar turnaround as it also moves from Renault to Mercedes power. "Our goal is to come to Williams' level," he admitted to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.
The German publication claims Lotus' engine switch will cost owner Gerard Lopez a two-digit sum -- the cost of the Mercedes deal plus a separation payment to Lotus. Maldonado thinks it is worth it. "We will automatically win half a second compared to the situation now," he said, "and we will also benefit aerodynamically, because the (Mercedes) power unit takes up less space."
The PDVSA-sponsored 29-year-old driver is also expecting "not only more power but more reliability" from the Mercedes, as well as more development options for "cooling". (GMM)
Lotus will win half a second with Mercedes - Maldonado
- Published on 15 Oct 2014 15:05
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- By: Rob Veenstra
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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
- 27,547 comments on Renault
9 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Pastor Maldonado
Team profile
- Team name Renault
- Base Enstone, France
- Fernando Alonso 1
- Daniel Ricciardo 3
- Fernando Alonso 5
- Fernando Alonso 5
- Fernando Alonso 7
- Romain Grosjean 8
- Fernando Alonso 8
- Fernando Alonso 8
- Pastor Maldonado 13
- Jenson Button 15
- Kevin Magnussen 20
- Nico Hülkenberg 27
- Jolyon Palmer 30
- Esteban Ocon 31
- Carlos Sainz jr 55
- 236,941 comments on Renault
- 26 members have this team as their favourite
- Tweets about Renault
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