Pastor Maldonado was confirmed as Williams’ second driver for 2011 earlier today.
It’s the second year in a row Williams have given a drive to a rookie with no F1 race experience.
But Maldonado has already tested for the team in Abu Dhabi and, as this video shows, been at work on the team’s simulator:
Joe Szpara
1st December 2010, 22:12
Frank Williams – “Have someone with a lot of capability and a good future”
Im sure he said something very similar for The Hulk?
Good luck anyway Pastor. You look scary. Wouldnt wanna fight you! :D
Victor.
1st December 2010, 22:16
You had someone with much more capability, Frank…
Disappointed with Williams.
msm
9th December 2010, 21:35
williams should appoint you as a formula one driver just in case maldonado fails.
RIISE (@riise)
1st December 2010, 22:21
The camera isn’t exactly kind to him, and are those gold teeth?
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
1st December 2010, 22:49
I think they’re braces.
RIISE (@riise)
1st December 2010, 23:10
Ahh right, that makes sense.
Sammy
1st December 2010, 23:08
Looks very intense, very serious, a bit like Petrov. Good Luck to him, Im sure its an opportunity he’s been waiting for his entire life.
Kevin
2nd December 2010, 9:06
I would say even nervous, but i suppose in your first day a Williams F1 anyone would be
GeeMac (@geemac)
1st December 2010, 23:29
Everytime I see someone in a simulator I always end up thinking…”I have got to get me one of those!”
DamionShadows
2nd December 2010, 0:09
Lol, we can all dream right?
Victor.
2nd December 2010, 0:10
I just found this by complete accident.
At the very end of the list of achievements the author should have added ‘One pay driver’.
It’s a shame to see even the most legendary to succumb to the pressure of economic factors…
Mike-e
2nd December 2010, 7:35
Very nice video, wonder if there are more for other teams?
Prisoner Monkeys
2nd December 2010, 0:42
How perfect would it be if we could find a Pastor Malcolm Donaldo somewhere?
Mike-e
2nd December 2010, 7:34
Nice video, wonder if there are more for other teams?
Prisoner Monkeys
2nd December 2010, 8:32
Every team has a simulator. James Allen had a feature on the Virgin one a while ago, and we regularly see the Red Bull one in the lap guide videos. However, these are not the simulators they test on – they have special ones that are not seen by the public which and super-realistic.
Larcem
2nd December 2010, 9:15
I hope he does a good job next year. it´s always nice to see more competition and new blood, even though I really like Hulkenberg as well. It´s shame to see him dropped =/
CarlitosF1
2nd December 2010, 10:27
We do need more latins to spice up F1, particularly if they are as fast as this guy and also have the looks of the bad guy in Scarface (picture him in a white suit and mirror shades, hopping out of a chopper somewhere in the middle of the Colombian jungle…) :-D
ipopic
2nd December 2010, 10:59
I think if nothing else Williams have gotten their hands on a strong contender in “for sure” championship. In few sentences he said in this video he said “for sure” 3 times including twice in a same sentence.
Button and Massa should be nervous :D
Joking aside, in ideal world Williams would have kept Hülkenberg but needed money more. It is really an unfortunate situation, I hope Nico finds a seat in F1 as he deserves it. When I think about it Schumacher’s return could be what made Hülkenberg lose his seat. He had a lot of German sponsorship in GP2 but most of them were former Schumacher sponsors (Dekra, that globe with V and too long name to remember Schumacher has on his cap). Maybe if MS hasn’t returned to F1 they would be more willing to back Nico financially and Williams would have kept him.
BBT
2nd December 2010, 13:11
Very good point which is another reason MSC should retire again
DHyork
2nd December 2010, 13:10
Frank Williams is lost, for money woauuuuuuuu thats realy bad Maldonado do not have talet for F1 you will see in 2011 thay money is not an skill driver, compare to hulk or other youth driver he is miles back on the line.
But you are the owner and I was fan of your team for many year, Sena, Mansel, Prost…. sorry now your team is a shame
msm
9th December 2010, 21:18
what do you know about fomula one boy. He is the gp2 champion just like lewis hamilton. the guy has not even started and you are already seeing him as a complite failure.
AlanP
2nd December 2010, 13:28
What Frank meant to say was ‘He first came to my attention when his agent let slip he has up to €10 million in personal sponsorship to bring to the team’.
He spent 4 years in GP2. Any driver spending four years in the same class when the cars have hardly changed should be expected to beat a field when most of the drivers were rookies in the class. I remain open-minded about him but if he does any better than Hulkenberg did last season I’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Alex Bkk
2nd December 2010, 13:29
You forgot Alan Jones, Keke Rosberg, Nelson Piquet, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve. All WDC’s with Williams.
Frank and Patrick were never able to turn Williams into the mega giant that Macca is today. It’s something I’ve never been able to understand.
Alex Bkk
2nd December 2010, 13:31
@ DHyork* Sorry I put the above comment in the wrong place.
Nikos
3rd December 2010, 1:38
It’s the ‘Senna’ curse mate!
robbiepblake (@driftin)
2nd December 2010, 14:51
For sure, he says ‘for sure’ a lot. He speaks the F1 speak, that’s… for sure.
Mach1
2nd December 2010, 17:57
What about this for an F1 simulator:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMLarxR-q08
This must be one of the very few ways of simulating some sort of G force:
I wonder if the poster above is correct and the simulators we see are not the actual ones they use. The williams simulator does not seem to be on hydraulic rams like the Red Bull version in.
The Red Bull one seems pretty costly for a a simulator they “don’t really use”.