Lotus F1 expecting "great things" from Maldonado after break

Maldonado scored points in two successive F1 races for only the second time in his career earlier this year, but they have been his only points-scoring finishes.

However, Permane remains convinced of the Venezuelan's speed and is confident the final nine races of the season will prove to be more fruitful.

"Pastor's had two very strong races this season and has been quick in all the other ones," Permane told AUTOSPORT.

"I'm expecting great things from him in the second half of the season."

Permane suggested that part of the reason for Maldonado's lack of results this year was down to him trying too hard.

In the last race before the summer break, Maldonado finished 14th at the Hungaroring after serving a drive-through penalty for a clash with Force India's Sergio Perez.

"All the races that he's done, he's been strong," added Permane.

"In Bahrain, he started almost from the back because we had a problem in qualifying with the brake system, and he would've finished seventh with a three-stop strategy from the back, but he made an error there.

"And in China he made a silly error coming into the pitlane.

"But they're all errors made by him trying too hard, if you like.

"It's not a lack of concentration, he's trying to gain the last hundredth of a second."

Maldonado receives considerable support from home country as well as significant backing from state oil company PDVSA.

But Permane believes that while that puts a lot of expectation on Maldonado's shoulders, from the outside he deals with it very well.

"He gets far more pressure from home, from the sponsors and his home people," said Permane.

"I don't know if he lets that get on top of him but I know that he feels the pressure and that's the pressure he puts himself under.

"Of course he wants to do well for the team but out of the car he's very relaxed and gives good feedback.

"He doesn't get hysterical and is a joy to work with."