Maldonado eyeing points in Monaco

The Grove-based squad is enduring its worse start to a Formula 1 season, having failed to score any points in the first five races of the year.

Rookie Maldonado, a Monaco specialist who has won in the principality twice in GP2 and once in Formula Renault 3.5, reckons the nature of the Monte Carlo circuit will offer Williams its best chance to end the points drought.

"It is always difficult," said Maldonado on Wednesday in Monaco. "Maybe in the past in other categories it was probably a bit easier to make a difference.

"But now I am quite confident as I know the track very well. I think it is a very great opportunity for the team to score some points - and we need it. So I will do my best to achieve a very good position."

When asked if Monaco was his best chance to score points, he said: "Until now, yes. For sure. We have a lot of chances to make our first points here - and especially for Rubens (Barrichello). He is so constant, he is so experienced and he knows the track very well. I think it is going to be a good chance for us."

He added: "I think here the driver can make a difference much easier than other tracks. There are not a lot of quick corners here, so the aerodynamics of the car is not working as it does in Barcelona and other tracks like that. The grip level is not so high, so the driver can make a difference here."

The Venezuelan also believes the gap to the frontrunning teams should be smaller in Monaco because of the smaller dependency on aerodynamics.

"Here, it is very difficult to predict. But, the car could be good. The need for aero efficiency is not as high as it is at other tracks, so the difference can be smaller here."