After making his F1 debut in Melbourne, Pastor Maldonado heads to Sepang – a track he knows from the GP2 Asia Series. Here’s what he has to say ahead of FP1

Looking back, how do you sum up your F1 debut in Australia?
I learnt a lot! The hardest thing was qualifying because it was difficult to manage the different sessions. You don’t have much time to set a time and you get only one lap on the tyres. Having experienced it for the first time in Melbourne, I feel more confident ahead of this race.

Does Rubens give you much advice?
He’s so experienced, so I look through his data very carefully to see what he’s doing. And let me tell you something: he’s quick! I like his driving style because he’s very constant. The way we brake and the way we get on the throttle is very similar, which is good because we need similar things from the car.

How was your GP debut received back home?
Two TV channels have the rights to F1 in Venezuela, so there was a lot of expectation. I think there was a bit of disappointment when I retired because people are pushing me to get some results. But that’s how it should be in F1; that’s great.

Is the FW33 an easy car to drive?
The car is good. I think it’s capable of scoring points, but there’s always something that you can improve. That’s the nature of motor racing; even Red Bull can improve their car. You always want more downforce and we’re working hard to develop our car. This team is very professional.

What have you done since Melbourne?
I flew straight to Kuala Lumpur after the race and I’ve spent the last week training in the Pan Pacific Hotel. I’ve been spending a lot of time outside to help me acclimatise to the heat. I know the Sepang circuit from GP2 Asia, when I finished second, so I’m looking forward to trying it in an F1 car.