Maldonado expecting little rest at Singapore

One way or another, Pastor Maldonado isn't expecting to get much in the way of rest once he arrives in Singapore for the next race on the F1 calendar.

Between the sweltering conditions, the odd timeshifted hours and the gruelling nature of the Marina Bay Park street circuit itself, there will be little chance for the Lotus F1 Team driver to take it easy.

"It is a very demanding track where you get no rest at all," said Maldonado. "It’s a track where you can’t make mistakes because the walls are so close.

"You are constantly turning or braking and there are only two short straights, not enough to really have a proper rest - but I like it this way because you get a rhythm going quickly," he insisted.

It's not just the track that's the challenge for the drivers and team personnel in Singapore, however.

"As everyone knows, we stay on European time. Although some people say it is tough, I find it not to be too difficult. Once you have experienced it you get used to this way of living and it is only for a few days anyway.

"The physical demands are much harder because of the extreme humidity so I make sure I am very well hydrated in the days leading up to the race and of course during time in the cockpit. It is probably the most important part of our preparation.

"Physically it is tough because the humidity is so high and the race so long, much longer than Monza for instance."

That said, next weekend's race could hardly prove to be any shorter than Monza had turned out to be for Lotus, with both Maldonado and his team mate Romain Grosjean retiring after first lap accidents.

"It was another race I watched from our motor home and that’s not how I want to spend my races! It was frustrating.

"I got a good start but received contact from another car and my race was over. We kept going for that lap but it was obvious the front suspension was damaged.

"I was lucky in a way as I was able to retire in the garage rather than Romain, who tried continuing after the incident he was involved in and had to park his car on track then find his way back. I could watch the race straight away! That’s motor racing sometimes."

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