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Williams close to front-runners - Maldonado

ESPNF1 Staff
March 21, 2012 « Hamilton eyes title after strong first round for McLaren | Horner focused on development race »
Pastor Maldonado: "I think we are faster than Ferrari, Sauber and Force India" © Sutton Images
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Pastor Maldonado believes Williams is "not far away" from the pace of McLaren and Red Bull at the front of the field.

After a dismal 2011 season, Williams has made huge strides this year as Maldonado demonstrated with an impressive performance in Australia. He crashed out on the last lap when pressuring Fernando Alonso for fifth place with the Williams looking the quicker car, and having displayed the pace to run near the front Maldonado said he thought Williams was ahead of the midfield.

"McLaren and Red Bull look strong, but we are not far away," Maldonado is quoted by Turun Sanomat. "We were very close to (Red Bull's) Mark Webber in the first and second stints. I think we are faster than Ferrari, Sauber and Force India."

When Maldonado crashed in Melbourne it cost the team 10 points - double the team's entire 2011 total - but he insists the performance has convinced him that points will be regularly attainable.

"We need points in the future ... but we are also now more relaxed now."

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