Pastor Maldonado tones down his accusation of a conspiracy

Pastor Maldonado

Williams driver Pastor Maldonado has toned down his attacks on the team but insisted that his car has turned out to be undriveable for the first time in three years.

A frustrated Maldonado earlier accused his team for conspiring against him and said that someone was playing with the pressure and temperature of his tyres. The Venezuelan looked much calmer after a poor qualifying session but still insisted that he was struggling with the car.

“I drove for three years in the team and I never feel something like that. The car is nowhere, the car is undriveable and it’s very clear on the on-boards and the data where and when I’m suffering on the track. The car was turning more to one side than the other,” Maldonado said.

“Maybe, maybe not, but I never feel something like that. I know very well how the car is; even from the beginning of the season it was quite tough for us but I never feel something like that. For sure, there is something quite big in the tyres – just because I’ve been doing this job for 20 years now and I know very well how the car is when the tyres are in the range,” he added when asked about whether the problems were deliberately done.

Maldonado will make way for Felipe Massa next season and is believed to be headed to Lotus due to his financial backing.