Maldonado says he has no plans to change aggressive approach despite penalties

The Williams driver, the winner of the Spanish Grand Prix, was given a penalty for crashing with Sauber's Sergio Perez in Monaco and another one for his contact with Lewis Hamilton in Valencia.

His aggressive style has meant he has crashed several times this year, but Maldonado insists he does not intend to change his approach as he reckons drivers are making a difference in such a tight field this year.

"For sure, I will drive in the same way and so we need to push," said Maldonado. "The gaps are very close and I think the drivers are making the difference at the moment."

Maldonado, who made his Formula 1 debut last year with Williams, believes the penalties have just been a consequence of bad luck, and he feels the clash with Hamilton was simply a racing incident.

"I think I have been quite unlucky the last couple of races," said the Venezuelan. "Especially in Monaco and Montreal because I got penalised because of the gearbox and I crashed in qualifying in Montreal, but the pace was always there and I think in the last race it is difficult to value because Lewis was losing by three seconds per lap.

"I saw the chance to get on the podium when I had a very difficult race, especially at the beginning when I was P10 and then I had a good race and I was looking forward to getting on the podium as well. One and a half laps from the end I saw the chance to take the position against Lewis and he tried to defend and I tried to attack and it was normal racing contact I think.

"I was disappointed because they were good points for the team and for me but there are many races ahead and the season is still long."

The Williams driver said however that he did not feel the stewards were picking on him for his aggressive driving.

"I don't think so. I have been unlucky but it is like football, and for sure we need to respect the rules. If you do not respect the rules you get a penalty and that is it."