Categories: F1 News, Reports and Race ResultsLotus F1

Maldonado pushing for first points in Canada

Lotus driver Pastor Maldonado's 2015 championship tally remains void of points as the Venezuelan heads to Montreal for next weekend's Canadian Grand Prix.

Some bad luck and reliability issues have combined to deprive the Lotus driver from achieving a significant result this season in spite of Lotus' form improvement. Maldonado is therefore hoping for a trouble-free run on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and an opportunity to finally initiate his championship score.

"I've approached every race wanting to finish in the points, ' Pastor commented. "The circuit in Canada has its own challenges but there’s nothing to say we shouldn’t be fast there. This year’s car has felt good so I’ll be pushing for points in the race. At most of the races this year we’ve looked strong all through the weekend and it’s been the final piece of crossing the finish line in the points which has been out of reach. That’s what we want this weekend."

"We’ve had upgrades and we have a good understanding of how to get the car to work how we want. It’s much more predictable and delivers more than last year’s car. You can see that the lessons learnt in 2014 have been applied. I’m looking forward to some good weekends where we can deliver what we’re capable of."

Despite its inherent challenges, Montreal is one of the more popular venues amongst the drivers and Maldonado is no exception.

"It’s amazing and I always enjoy being there. Canada is a great race not only because of the track but because of the people who come to support it. There is a great atmosphere all weekend and the city is quite close to the circuit which means there is a great vibe all round. There is also a lot of history to the Grand Prix and it has been around for a while - it is one of the great GPs during the season."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.