Brazilian GP: Disappointing end to 2013 for Williams F1


By Williams F1 Team
November 26 2013

The final race of the 2013 Formula One season, the Brazilian GP, would see the Williams F1 come away with a disappointing result with Pastor Maldonado finishing in 16th and Valtteri Bottas retiring from the race after having made contact with Hamilton. Neither driver had the pace to challenge for a points scoring result.

 
 Williams Brazilian GP Race Review
 
Bottas
 
Race Notes
• Pastor Maldonado finished 16th as Valtteri Bottas retired in today’s Brazilian Grand Prix.
• The season has not been what was hoped for but despite that, the team would like to thank the drivers and everyone at Grove for their continued hard work.
• The team would also like to thank Pastor for the last three years and wish him well for the future.
• Thanks go to Renault as we reach the end of our partnership which included our return to the top step of the podium.
• The team also extends best wishes to Mark Webber as he moves on to a new challenge.
• Williams now heads into a busy winter and will prepare to come back stronger as we enter a new era of racing in 2014.
Pastor Maldonado:  Pastor Maldonado
 "We were fighting hard today with the cars around us but the pace wasn’t quite in the car to be able to challenge for the top ten. We lost some time in the pitstops today and ultimately we couldn’t recover the places. It’s been a great three years with this team, I had a nice moment with Frank and the team this morning and they will stay in my heart forever."
Valtteri Bottas: 
Valtteri Bottas"Unfortunately we had to end the season without finishing the race today. We seemed to be struggling a bit with the prime tyre but once we put the option tyres on we seemed to be able to catch the cars in front. We had an incident with Hamilton where I tried to keep my line overtaking on the outside and we touched. It’s disappointing to end the season like this but a points-finish may have been too much for us today anyway."
Xevi Pujolar, Chief Race Engineer:
 Xevi Pujolar"We planned a two-stop strategy with both cars today starting on option tyres. Valtteri pitted as planned for prime tyres but we extended Pastor's first stint as there was a chance of rain in the early stages. As the forecast changed we brought Pastor in for another set of options, but in the lower temperatures today both cars were struggling for pace so couldn't really fight. We continued on plan, whilst continuing to watch the weather, bringing in Pastor to switch onto the prime tyres with Valtteri back on the options for the final stage of the race. Unfortunately, Valtteri’s race ended early as he retired at Turn 4 after losing his left-rear wheel when Hamilton made contact with him. Pastor then had a spin whilst racing Vergne and eventually finished in 16th."
Laurent Debout, Renault Sport F1 team support leader:
 "Unfortunately we could not end the V8 era and our partnership with Williams in the way we would have liked but we can still hold our heads high. After a difficult start to the year everyone at Williams and Renault worked hard to come back and we showed a lot of form in the second part of the year. We’ve enjoyed our two years together immensely and wish the entire team all the best for 2014. We look forward to a clean fight on track! "
 
Maldonado
 

Track Autódromo José Carlos Pace, Brazil
Race Length 71 laps, 305.909 kms

Weather Mild and dry
Air: 18 - 20°C Track: 22 - 26°C

POS

DRIVER

TEAM

Time (Fastest Lap)

Grid

1

 S Vettel Red Bull 1:32:36.300 (1:15.624, 3rd) 1

2

 M Webber Red Bull

+ 10.452 (1:15.436, 1st)

4

3

 F Alonso Ferrari

+ 18.913 (1:15.496, 2nd)

 3
16 P MALDONADO
FW35-02 R275429		 Williams F1 Team + 1 lap (1:17.554, 18th) 17
DNF V BOTTAS
FW35-01 R275488		 Williams F1 Team + DNF (1:16.840, 13th) 13
 

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