Pastor Maldonado says he hopes to remain with Williams next season, despite the Grove outfit’s poor form this season so far.
2013 has marked Williams worst ever start to a Formula 1 season since it was founded back in 1977. Maldonado has just one point to his name thanks to a tenth place finish in Hungary, whilst team-mate and rookie Valtteri Bottas has none.
The Venezuelan doesn’t seem too concerned however, and believes things are heading in the right direction for 2014.
“I hope next year [to be] here with the new car, new engine, new regulations…they have been working very hard,” he told ESPN. “They’ve replaced some personnel in the team, we have new people, new people will arrive.
“In my opinion the restructuring of the team is going in a good way and I hope to stay. I hope to stay; maybe it’s a safe decision but you never know.”
Although he briefly hinted that a move elsewhere is possible following links between him and the open seat at Lotus: “The market is still open,” he added.
The 28-year-old acknowledged the problems he and the team are currently undergoing, but he believes the relationship he has formed with them is strong enough to stop him looking elsewhere.
“To be honest I’m not feeling so good with the car and that’s obvious. Last year we were always fighting for Q3 and this year we are miles away from where we were but I feel really good in the team. I have good relationships, good people around me, good engineers, good feelings, so we need to value all that very well and I hope I will stay.”
