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#228055
So Maldonado has been confirmed. Hope he's got the talent to match the amount of sponsorship money he's bringing to Williams. Hope he doesn't end up like Crapajima, but then again Crapajima was deliberately enforced on Williams by Toy-slow-ta and unlike him Maldonado is the current GP2 Champ (although this year's series hasn't had any stand-out drivers).

http://www.attwilliams.com/news/view/1668

Maldonado Confirmed for 2011
Posted on Wednesday 01 Dec 2010 and tagged with maldonado.

Williams F1 today confirmed that Pastor Maldonado will contest the 2011 FIA Formula One World Championship for the AT&T Williams team. The appointment finalises the team’s line up for next year following confirmation in November that Rubens Barrichello will remain with the British squad for a further season.

Venezuelan-born Maldonado started his motorsport career in karts at the age of seven, his passion for the sport ignited by a father and uncles who all competed. Having won seven national karting titles, Pastor moved into Formula racing in 2003. With three series championships and 30 wins to his credit, most notably a superlative victory at Monaco in only his debut year in GP2 in 2007, Pastor brings a wealth of experience to the team at only 25 years of age.

Pastor’s promotion into the pinnacle of motorsport follows an impressive 2010 campaign in the GP2 championship in which he was crowned champion and became the only driver to have ever won six successive feature races in a single season. Pastor also comes to the team with nearly 2,000kms of F1 testing mileage in hand having driven all four of the Abu Dhabi test days. Pastor will make his debut in the team’s 2011 race car, the Williams Cosworth FW33, in February’s winter test programme.

On Pastor’s appointment, AT&T Williams Team Principal, Frank Williams, said, “Pastor first caught my eye in 2007 when he drove a masterful race at Monaco. Since then, he has regularly reminded us of his unquestionable talent with some skilful wins, particularly during this year’s GP2 championship, taking an unsurpassed record of six successive victories. Of course, we already know Pastor from the time he spent with the team at the Abu Dhabi test, but we are very much looking forward to developing his talent over the winter and a fruitful season with him next year.”

Pastor commented, “I feel very privileged that Williams has selected me as one of their race drivers. It is a great way to end what has already been an amazing year for me. I tested with the team in Abu Dhabi, but can’t wait to start working with everyone properly to be in the best possible shape going into next year. I will be doing my best over the winter to prepare myself, and I know the team will be working hard to ensure a successful season. 2011 will be the first time in nearly thirty years that a Venezuelan has driven a Formula One car so I will be looking to get some good results in return for the support my country has given me to help get me to this position today.”
#228097
Frank Williams and I think Pastor is a much better package than Hulkenburg.

It's not like Hulkenburg was going to win any races and put Williams third in the WCC anyway, getting the best of the best drivers is not really important at the stage where Williams F1 team is at now. It's all about rebuilding and refreshing, and nothing does that better than the right money and the right people.
#228102
It took Maldanando 4 seasons to take the GP2 crown. It took Hulkenburg just 1. Hulkenburg also managed to stick his car on pole in Brazil by a full blown second. It's all about potenial, and that there shows outright he has the potenial to win races.

But it's quite clear that money is thee issue for Williams right now. With the loss of several sponsors at the end of this year, they need money now, rather than later. I think their money's coming from Qatar and Venezuela.

I'd say expect Maldanando to be a very similar driver to Petrov. I'll be honest, i've got nothing against Maldanando. I've said before that he'd be interesting to watch in F1, and I'd safely say he's not going to be another Nakajima. But it's just that Hulkenburg is clearly a much more promising driver. It's just sad to see drivers choosen based on money and sponsorship.
#228105
Frank Williams and I think Pastor is a much better package than Hulkenburg.

You say that as if you and Frank are Facebook friends :hehe: .

It's not like Hulkenburg was going to win any races and put Williams third in the WCC anyway.

It's not likely that Pastor will be any different :wink: .

Getting the best of the best drivers is not really important at the stage where Williams F1 team is at now.

So why dump NH for a driver who has no F1 experience, NH has proved he can get results? :confused:

It's all about rebuilding and refreshing, and nothing does that better than the right money and the right people.

The right money agreed as $15m will help but what does Pastor bring too the team other than money?? Aswell don't talk to me about what it takes to rebuilding and refreshing a team, I'll take my 30+yr's of experience over your 3yr opinion anyday :wink: .

Here is a question for you so lets see if you know it, what does it REALLY take to make a team successful?

It's just sad to see drivers choosen based on money and sponsorship.

:yes::clap:
#228106
I think he'll be solid but unspectacular.


Yeah Id agree with that. OK he's coming to F1
and may be ok but he doesnt fill me with excitement.
#228119
I think he'll be solid but unspectacular.


Yeah Id agree with that. OK he's coming to F1
and may be ok but he doesnt fill me with excitement.


Hopefully he will put in solid performances for the williams team and lots of money so they can develop the car. I'm not expecting him to be groundbreaking as well, even though I haven't seen him race much. I do however think he will be able to get a better start to the season than hulkenburg.
#228129
As long as the Pasta man brings in plenty of points whilst Barrichello is (hopefully) slugging the FW33 near the front, I'll be more than happy.

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