Sir Frank Williams Speaks about the 2013 Driver Line-up
Pastor Maldonado and Valtteri Bottas get to know each other ahead of the 2013 F1 season
Pastor Maldonado
Born in Maracay, Venezuela on March 9, 1985.
1993: Begins his racing career in karting at the age of 7 winning several national championships.
2002: Winner of the winter championship for rookie drivers, Italian Formula Renault 2000.
2003: Winner of the winter championship, Italian Formula Renault 2000.
2004: Italian Formula Renault 2000 Champion(same championship won by Felipe Massa in 2000).
2006: Could have won the World Series by Renault(WSbR) championship with Draco Racing Team, but because of a controversial technical infringement lost his win and fastest lap at the Misano race(16 pts).Finished 3, 9 points behind the champion Alx Danielsson.
2007: Debuts in GP2 with team Trident Racing winning Monaco feature race(first driver to win back to back WSbR and GP2 races at Monaco). Was 5 in the standings when suffered an injury during his regular training program, breaking one of his collarbones when falling from his bicycle. Missed all the races from Turkey onwards.
2008: His first full season in GP2, this time with team Piquet Sports. Finished 5 in the standings with 60 points but only 4 points behind runner up Bruno Senna.
2010: GP2 Champion with team Rapax, setting a new record of six consecutive feature race wins(Turkey, Valencia, Silverstone, Hockenheim, Hungary and Spa-Francorchamps).
2011: Debut in Formula 1 with Williams F1. Highlight being running in sixth place before a collision with Lewis Hamilton.
2012: Second season with Williams. First Grand Prix victory in Spain, and first for Williams since Juan Pablo Montoya at Brazil 2004.
Favorite tracks: Monza, Spa-Francorchamps and Monaco.
Valtteri Bottas
Date of birth: August 28, 1989 (23 y/o)
Place of birth: Nastola
Races entered: 114
Wins: 31
Podiums: 58
Pole positions: 27
Fastest laps: 30
Race win percentage: 27.19%
1996: Begins karting at the age of 6 in Finland.
2004: Finnish Championship ICA Junior.
2005: Viking Trophy - ICA Winner.
2006: Winner of Finnish Championship Formula A with Kohtala Sports.
2008: Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup Champion with Motopark Academy and on 139 points.. 14 races. 5 wins. 7 pole positions. 10 podiums. 4 fastest laps.
2010: Formula 3 Euro Series. 3rd in the series overall with ART Grand Prix. 74 points. 18 races. 2 wins. 1 pole position. 8 podiums. 4 fastest laps.
2011: GP3 Series with Lotus ART. Series Champion with 62 points. 16 races. 4 wins. 1 pole position. 7 podiums. 3 fastest laps.
2012: Reserve driver for Williams. 15 free practice sessions. Took over Bruno Senna's seat at the end of the year.