Maldonado more confident after first Formula 1 point

"For sure I feel more confident in the team, with the car, with everything," said Maldonado at Monza on Thursday.

"As a rookie you know you need a bit of time to adapt yourself to the different level in Formula 1, coming from GP2. But at the moment I feel at home, the team is great, especially because of the spirit.

"They are always pushing so hard and they always want more. In the factory, here in the track also. I spend a lot of time in the factory and in the simulator. So I think apart from the results were are doing well and I hope to improve myself race after race and even the car."

The Venezuelan, last year's GP2 champion, is also adamant that he is getting better with every race that goes by.

He added: "I'm improving. My only mission here is to improve race after race you know. I think that drivers never stop [learning].

"You can continually improve and I have done that so far this year. Every race I have been learning more from Rubens [Barrichello] and learning more from the team. Also about the tracks and the different things that I have experienced in the past."

Despite his first point of the year, Maldonado is aware that Williams has to keep pushing following a difficult season.

"I am pleased especially for the team. For the country, for me. It's important but it's not everything. We need more, we need to keep pushing.

"The season is not over and we need to keep pushing. I think the team is doing good and they are still pushing on some new things. The car is improving race after race. I'm more experienced as well you know, so I am more confident with the team and the car."

He also admitted he would like Williams to keep Rubens Barrichello as his team-mate for next year.

"For sure Rubens and me we are working so hard and I feel very good with him in the team. I think him as well. We do have one of the most, in my opinion, strongest driver line-ups in Formula 1 and for sure I would like to have him in the team next year. But for both of us there is nothing at the moment."