Lotus: Maldonado is optimistic for the end of the season
Pastor Maldonado believes that Lotus has the potential to finish the 2014 season on a high note, and the Venezuelan driver thinks that his team will come back stronger next year.
The former Williams driver, Pastor Maldonado, has not managed to score a single point this season, his best result being a 12th place, achieved three times, in Austria, Germany, and Singapore.
If Lotus secured podiums last season, this year the Enstone team has scored only 8 points. Yet during the last Grand Prix at Marina Bay Street Circuit, Lotus delivered their best performance according to Romain Grosjean’s teammate: « The race was good. We had a good race but once again we were a bit unlucky. During the race, we were able to fight for points consistently and we had more merit than in some of the races we’ve had this year. The potential is there for us to add points, so I’m convinced we can finish in the points soon. I’m also convinced that we can finish this season in the best possible way, which will give us a new momentum for the 2015 season »
The South American driver also gives an initial assessment of this season: « Obviously, it has been a difficult year, but the important thing is that we are still united as a team and we can become stronger. From what I see and what I learn, the 2015 car looks very competitive. The team at Enstone is more determined than ever to succeed, and I can say 100% that I share the same vision. We will be very motivated this winter to prepare for the tests during the off-season, » he added.
The next step is the Japanese Grand Prix; it’s a challenge where the Lotus could easily adapt: « It is always nice to know that you will be able to deliver a good performance on this circuit. If everything goes smoothly, Suzuka is a pleasure. I really hope we can have a good weekend at Suzuka because it is a pleasure to drive there. I think for a driver, it is at least comparable to Spa, maybe better in some areas. I just love racing at Suzuka and even Japan as a whole »
He details in Crash.net the strong points of driving during a lap at Suzuka: « There are so many people. The start of the lap is incredible with the corners up the hill, left-right-left-right. It’s a very fast circuit and you need a very good car, agile to change direction quickly. The corners are really challenging and you need maximum concentration and bravery. It’s almost a perfect track, he concludes.
