Heading into his fifth season in Formula 1, Pastor Maldonado is ready to set the record straight and deliver strong results on track in 2015.
What’s the outlook for Pastor Maldonado looking ahead to the 2015 season?
I’m excited and I can’t wait to get out on track in the E23. I’ve had a good winter break where I’ve been back to Venezuela, spent some time with my family and I’ve done a lot of training. I’m very focused and prepared for the season ahead. We’ve made a lot of changes for the new car which all look to be fantastic. There’s a lot of potential for the year ahead and I can’t wait to get it started.
What do you think of the E23 Hybrid?
It looks great to me! You can see the thought and detail that’s gone into the E23 and in every respect it’s a step forward from last year’s car. We knew that big changes had to be made and the team at Enstone have done a fantastic job and the benefit our new engine partner brings should be soon as the season gets underway. It’s been great hearing about the development of the car as there are so many positives coming out of the factory. Everyone is pushing hard and that motivates you more.
2014 was a difficult season; how have you recalibrated and motivated yourself for 2015?
That last year was a difficult one for us, but it has motivated myself and the team more than ever to deliver in 2015. For myself, I’ve been training harder than ever and I’m starting the season as fit as I’ve ever been. I’ve looked at every aspect of being a top sportsman to try to find any area to help me deliver on track and I know the team have worked on every area of the car to make it the best possible. We’re both ready to bounce back.
What’s the vibe at Enstone?
I was in the factory early in January, visiting all the different departments and speaking to people and you can tell how determined everyone is. No-one enjoyed the results we saw last year but everyone can see that the fundamental issue has been addressed and there’s great potential for the year ahead. No-one’s underestimating the amount of hard work required, but everyone’s ready to put in the effort which is fantastic to see.
How eager are you to get back out on track?
I’m very excited about this car and I want to be in it as soon as possible. It’s going to be great to be back at the track, working with my engineers and the rest of the team, learning about the new car and developing every aspect of it to make us as fast as possible for the season ahead.
There were significant regulation changes for 2014 whereas this season will represent the second iteration of this latest generation of car; do you think the progress made should make it easier to deliver on track?
Certainly last year’s cars were different to drive from what Formula 1 had seen recently and everyone had to adapt. For a number of reasons our car in 2014 was not the easiest to extract performance from, especially at the start of the year. From working with my engineers at Enstone I know that this year’s car should be far easier to get the most from, not just because of obvious reasons like the different Power Unit, but in so many ways because of all the understanding we gained last year. We have the potential to jump right back up the order.
You say you feel fitter than you’ve ever been; how have you made this improvement?
I spend a lot of time working with my trainer, Fabrizio, and I we have a great programme which always varies what I do to make me fitter and fitter. The targets always change and it’s always a challenge. I do a lot of training in the gym, which I really enjoy, then there is a lot of training outside which is always good fun too. It’s rewarding and satisfying and helps make you a better driver so it’s a great part of being a Formula 1 driver.
What are your targets and objectives for 2015?
We want to get back to regular points scoring and delivering strongly on track. We know the potential is there and we’re all pushing to be there. Testing will be interesting as we get to learn about our new car, and I know there are a lot of developments coming through for the season ahead. It’s going to be an exciting season.