• GP2

Maldonado credits team for title

Pastor Maldonado hopes to secure a drive in Formula One © Sutton Images

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Pastor Maldonado paid credit to his Rapax team after wrapping up the GP2 title at Monza over the weekend.

Although Maldonado failed to pick up any points during both races, title rival Sergio Perez failed to take the win and fastest lap he needed in order to take the title fight to the final round in Abu Dhabi this November.

"For sure the difference this year is the team: they are a completely strong team, we work well together and it's a compact team, and that's made the difference, especially at the beginning in the winter test," said Maldonado. "When I saw them working like that, I was so confident for the victory.

"The team is quite new, half of them, so new mechanics and engineers in the team and organisation. It's more concentrated, and they put a lot of confidence in me, they were quick with pitstops, their strategies: everything was just running good, and that's made the difference. The new engineers are from GT racing, they maybe see things different than the GP2 engineers, and that's made a difference too: they are finding new ways, and are consistent because of the long races."

Maldonado now hopes to follow in the footsteps of 2009 GP2 champion Nico Hulkenberg and clinch a drive in Formula One. And although the Venezuelan's management team is working hard to make it a reality, Maldonado admits there is nothing in the pipeline as yet.

"We haven't got anything yet, but we have talked to a lot of teams and we have a lot of interest, and now I will look at getting the best seat I can find for me for the future. I think I can do very well there, and we are concentrating on getting a good team and [winning] the title is important."

Maldonado's immediate focus, however, is to secure enough points for his team to have a chance of winning the constructors' title in Abu Dhabi.

"We now need to focus and to keep pushing for the team championship: we are very close with Addax and ART, but I'm confident we can do it."

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