Pastor Maldonado targeting World Drivers’ Championship battle

After taking his maiden Grand Prix victory in Sunday’s stunningly entertaining Spanish Grand Prix, Venezuelan driver Pastor Maldonado now believes he has the ability to mount a Championship battle for the remainder of 2012. With Williams suffering a disastrous 2011 season, this is a stark contrast to their fortunes.

Pastor Maldonado became the first driver to win a Formula 1 race from Venezuela, as well as the first driver to take the Grove-based Williams team to victory since Juan Pablo Montoya did so in 2004. Now, as the F1 fraternity packs up and heads to the glamour of Monaco, Maldonado is aiming for more victories and podiums as he heads to his favorite track on the F1 calendar.

"Everything is possible.” Explained the 27-year-old, “We aren’t the best team at the moment. [But] the gaps are close and I’m driving well. I have a good feeling with the team and with the car. We are looking to do our best, looking forward to winning some races, to getting a couple more podiums. And I’m really happy because the team hasn’t won many races for many years so this is a great moment for us. I hope to continue like that."

The celebratory scenes outside the Williams garage after the race were cut short when a freak fire ripped through the garages, injuring many as team personnel did their best to quell the flames. After the mayhem, the FIA released a statement confirming that 31 team members were seen by the Circuit Medical Centre staff, with seven being transferred to local hospitals to receive further treatment.

Williams will be hoping to push this disaster aside when they reach Monaco, and aim to continue their competitive form. The last time the Grove-based outfit won around the Streets of Monte-Carlo was in 2003 when Juan-Pablo Montoya was behind the wheel.

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