History-making Maldonado eyes title bid

Williams driver confident of success in Formula One season

BARCELONA: Pastor Maldonado emerged from the emotional chaos of his maiden victory and the Williams team’s blazing return to glory in Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix by declaring his next ambition: to mount a serious challenge for the world title.

The 27-year-old history-making Venezuelan became the fifth different winner in five races this year - the most open start to a season since 1983 - to declare his intentions and underlined that performance with a dignified and heroic response. Not only did he win a tumultuous race, he also turned into a hero by coming to the team’s aid when a fire ignited in the Williams garage after the race and he went in to rescue his cousin.

The first Venezuelan driver to start a race from pole position and the nation’s first Grand Prix winner said, “Everything is possible. We aren’t the best team at the moment, but the gaps are close and I’m driving well. And I have a very good feeling with the team and the car.”

After Sunday’s win, Maldonado is ninth in the drivers’ standings, 32 points behind joint leaders defending double world champion Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull and Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso.

“We’re looking to do our best and I’m really happy because the team hasn’t won many races for many years so this is a great moment for us.”

Alonso was delighted to finish second, while Vettel battled through to sixth, a result that confirmed he will not dominate this year as he did 2011.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 15^th, 2012.