• Williams

Maldonado 'very happy' to be leaving Williams

ESPN Staff
November 14, 2013 « Perez 'in a very difficult position' over future | Lotus approached Schumacher over F1 return »
© Associated Press
Enlarge

Pastor Maldonado says he is "very happy" to be leaving Williams at the end of the season after three years with the team.

Although Maldonado won a race in 2012, Williams has endured a torrid season so far with just a solitary point courtesy of Maldonado's tenth place in Hungary. It was announced ahead of the United States Grand Prix that Felipe Massa would be replacing Maldonado in 2014, while Valtteri Bottas will be retained for a second season.

Asked if he was disappointed to be leaving, Maldonado replied: "No, I am very happy!

"Since a couple of months ago I was in conversation with the team and I wanted to leave the team and that's it. I am very happy for that.

"Personally I want to try something different. It is a very important time for me in my career; it's a tough decision but a great one. It was my decision. I think in Singapore more or less I decided to leave the team and it was 100% my decision."

Pushed on why the relationship with Williams had deteriorated, Maldonado said he felt he'd been giving the team more than he was getting in return.

"It's a feeling," he said ahead of a FOTA Forum in Austin. "I'm Latin American, I need to … I'm a very hot driver; I showed that on the track as well. My [conditions] in the team were not the best so I am looking to have a better [condition] around me and try to deliver even more ... I think I delivered more for the team than they did for me."

Maldonado has been linked with a move to Lotus next season, but says his plans are still yet to be finalised.

"We are working on it. I hope to have a clear decision soon and everything all sorted ... Every week I've heard something different. For sure we are talking with Lotus as well but I have a couple more options. Maybe I have the idea and we are working on that and I hope to have the final decision soon and a clear role for next year."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
ESPN Staff Close