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Williams is back on front-running form - Maldonado

Pastor Maldonado: "Our car is very consistent and quick during the races" © Sutton Images

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Pastor Maldonado believes his Williams has the potential to be a front runner at the final two races after its latest raft of updates significantly improved the pace of the car.

After struggling for points since his victory at the Spanish Grand Prix, Maldonado felt he could have won in Abu Dhabi last weekend had it not been for a KERS problem dropping him off the pace. He said the speed of the car had dramatically improved with updates in India and he is aiming to get back near the podium at the final two races.

"Red Bull is quite strong and even McLaren at the moment, but anything can happen," he told ESPN when asked if another win is possible before the end of the season. "Our objective is to put the car in the top ten and as close to the podium as we can. Our car is very consistent and quick during the races and the further we start up the grid the better it is for us.

"We are working so hard and we show everyone that we are back again to be very strong with two cars in the points [in Abu Dhabi] - it's very positive. I'm disappointed because we had a problem again - in Singapore we also had a problem [while fighting for a podium] - but it happened as well to McLaren. But we have to stay focused and try to understand why we had this problem."

Maldonado spent free practice in India testing the updates but finished 16th after contact during the race. However, he said he reaped the rewards in Abu Dhabi by taking fifth place without the benefit of KERS.

"In India we did a good step forward. We put everything together and reviewed everything we had and I lost a lot of time in practice in India because I did all the tests and all the development of the car and then I just go more or less ready for qualifying, but I was not ready for the reaction of the car. [In Abu Dhabi] we started with a better pace and all weekend we were very consistent, with very good pace and always in the top ten. I did a great job in qualifying and we did a good job in the race until I had the problem."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.