Share

Maldonado wants clean Monza

MONZA, Italy - Keeping out of the Formula 1 race stewards' room will be a priority for Pastor Maldonado at Monza this weekend even if the Williams driver was not entirely clear on Thursday about how he intended to do that.


The Venezuelan has been called in to see the officials so many times this season that he might as well have his own desk and chair with them but the one-race ban imposed on Lotus driver Romain Grosjean at the Italian GP has given him food for thought.


TESTING STEWARDS' PATIENCE


Grosjean was suspended for causing a pile-up at the start in Belgium last weekend, with his car flying over the front of Fernando Alonso's Ferrari and putting the championship leader out of the race. The sanction also reflected the Frenchman's record of having seven incidents in 12 races so far.


Maldonado has had 10 punishments imposed on him so far, including three at Spa that left him with a 10-place grid penalty for Monza, and the stewards' patience could soon be running out. The Venezualan told reporters in the Williams motorhome: "I have been penalised quite a lot; we need to try to do something different, to be away from the stewards.


"I'm doing my best and this is the solution, to be away from them. Sometimes I've been involved in small incidents and been to the stewards again so I will try to be away from everything. But at the same time I will try to push and I will try to do my best for the team and myself.


"I must evaluate the situations, it is difficult now to say I will get this style or change that. I need to think more and evaluate more the situation in the car."


DROUGHT ENDED


Maldonado is Williams' leader on the track, with Brazilian team mate Bruno Senna less experienced, and rewarded them with a win in Barcelona in May that ended the team's eight-year drought. He's also cost the former champions a good many points with needless penalties, including clashes in practice that have then forced unscheduled gearbox changes and ensuing five-place grid demotions.


Maldonado, who jumped the start at Spa and then retired after a later collision, said he was going through "a bad moment" but would come through it and was fully supported by the team. He recognised he was sometimes too aggressive but laughed off any "bad boy" image.


Monza is the fastest track on the calendar and Maldonado, despite starting way down the field as a result of his penalties, was confident he could make up ground on Sunday. "I think here it is possible, it's one of the tracks where you can overtake."


Stay with Wheels24 for the Italian F1 GP weekend

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()