Twelve months is a long time in any sport. In Formula One it’s an age. And if you ever want to see the perfect case study in just how things can change in a period of a year, surely the contrasting fortunes of one Pastor Maldonado between Spain 2012 and 2013 is the prime example.
Pole position (technically) and race winner last year. Q1 dropout, lapped by the race winner, and outqualified by his rookie teammate this weekend.
We miss the Pastor that used to drive beyond the limitations of the Williams to get the car into Q3 on a regular basis and be in the mix. The 2013 model of Pastor just doesn’t do that at all, which is a shame.
As much as we would love to say that there is a chance that Williams can turn it around, the static regulations in Formula One right now will probably limit what they can change and improve. And the future isn’t exactly bright either – the new 2014 Renault engine is the most expensive on the grid, and with Maldonado’s sponsor budget under threat thanks to Venezuelan politics, the money might not be there…
We’ll just chalk this one up as one to forget, shall we?
