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Williams makes a point at last

BUDAPEST, Hungary - Pastor Maldonado finished the 2013 Hungarian GP 10th to put the Williams team out of its F1 misery by ending a 10-race streak of no-score finishes.

The team previously scored points at the 2012 US GP in Texas.

Six laps before the end of the race it looked as if the team was destined to fail again, with Maldonado running 11th and team mate Valtteri Bottas suffering his first retirement of the 2013 season.

‘ONE POINT AT LAST’


Fortunately for Maldonado, Nico Rosberg's Mercedes suffered engine issues on lap 65 of 70 and he inherited the precious point.

Maldonado said: "One point, at last. For the team this point is very important but we need to keep pushing. Today is a small step forward, but it's not enough. It's enough to show everybody we've improved but we need to keep improving, especially in qualifying."

Maldonado won the 2012 Spanish GP to earn his team its first triumph in nearly eight years.

The run of nine races in 2013 without a point marked Williams' worst start to a season in which it celebrated its 600th GP start.

‘POTENTIAL IS THERE’

Maldonado hoped a change in Pirelli tyres, imposed after a sequence of blowouts at the 2013 British GP would bring a change of fortune. "The potential is there.Throughout the weekend we were competitive, more than before. We're not the quickest but we are consistent, one of our strongest points. At the last two or three races we've been able to fight for the top 10, but for so many reasons we didn't make it.

“With these new tyres they are much better for us. I'm encouraged to see how we will be at Spa because normally in the high-speed corners are our car is quite good."

Hungary was the last race before Formula 1 takes a break ahead of the 2013 Belgian GP Prix at Spa-Francorchamps on August 25.
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