Analysis
Formula 1
'Any change' good for struggling Williams - Maldonado
With the departure of Mike Coughlan, the door opened for Pat Symonds at the Williams F1 team, and Pastor Maldonado commented: "I think we need some change"
GMM
Edited: Aug 6, 2013, 10:42 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Aug.6 (GMM) Pastor Maldonado insists the arrival at Williams of Pat Symonds, and the departure of Mike Coughlan, must be good for the beleaguered British team.
2012 appeared to be a turnaround in fortunes for Williams, when Venezuelan Maldonado won the Spanish Grand Prix.
But the slump returned with a vengeance in 2013, and after the first half of the season only a solitary point separates Williams from the backmarkers Marussia and Caterham.
So, mid last month, Williams announced that Pat Symonds - formerly of the title-winning Benetton and Renault team until the 'crashgate' scandal - is switching from Marussia.
Valtteri Bottas, Williams
Photo by: XPB Images
At the same time, Williams' technical director Coughlan 'stepped down'.
"Yeah, I think we need some change," said Maldonado.
"The way we've been working, trying to improve our performance, was not the best and for sure any change in a good way is very welcome."
Teammate Valtteri Bottas agrees that Williams needs "some new ideas and new opinions".
Maldonado bluntly told Brazil's Totalrace: "It is practically impossible for us to be worse than how we have been this year.
"Any change is welcome," he added. "If it will solve the problem, we don't know.
"What I do know is that we work hard, but the way we have been working did not work. Now we have to change something in the team."
However, he refuses to say Coughlan, the former McLaren chief designer who initially left F1 at the centre of the 'spygate' scandal, is the reason for Williams' troubles.
"We cannot speak about one person; we are 500 employees, and I include myself," said Maldonado.
Pastor Maldonado, Williams
Photo by: XPB Images
"We did not do things the right way and so we did not get the results."
Most worrying, the 28-year-old driver admitted, is that Williams is baffled as to why its performance crashed so badly over the winter period.
"We don't know why, and this is one of the most serious problems we have," said Maldonado.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Calado on track for Force India future
Next article Vettel backs Ecclestone amid legal troubles
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
GMM
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Formula 1
Formula 1
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Formula 1
Formula 1
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
Formula 1
Formula 1
Chinese GP
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
More from
Valtteri Bottas
Cadillac reveals date for F1 engine factory debut, thanks drivers for being “patient”
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
Cadillac reveals date for F1 engine factory debut, thanks drivers for being “patient”
Cadillac’s F1 brakes are still a problem: ‘I had to lift and coast on lap two’
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Cadillac’s F1 brakes are still a problem: ‘I had to lift and coast on lap two’
You Ask The Questions: Valtteri Bottas
Formula 1
Canadian GP
You Ask The Questions: Valtteri Bottas
More from
McLaren
Who slept worst last night: Lando Norris
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
2 h
Who slept worst last night: Lando Norris
Lando Norris laments "very bad job" in qualifying for F1 United States GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
Lando Norris laments "very bad job" in qualifying for F1 United States GP
Latest news
What happened to Austin Hill at the end of Talladega NASCAR Cup race?
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Talladega II
9 min
What happened to Austin Hill at the end of Talladega NASCAR Cup race?
Sesks tight-lipped on WRC future after ERC season finale triumph
WRC
WRC WRC 40 min
Sesks tight-lipped on WRC future after ERC season finale triumph
Franco Colapinto responds to Jeremy Clarkson’s controversial comment about him
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
1 h
Franco Colapinto responds to Jeremy Clarkson’s controversial comment about him
WRC legend Carlos Sainz set for Ford Puma Rally1 outing
Other rally
Misc Other rally 2 h
WRC legend Carlos Sainz set for Ford Puma Rally1 outing
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe