Rubens Barrichello - Photo Credit: Lorenzo Bellanca/LAT Photographic
The two Williams drivers made up a combined total of 21 places from their start positions in Abu Dhabi today, but failed to pick up points as Rubens Barrichello finished twelfth and Pastor Maldonado was fourteenth.
The team were relatively happy with the race today though, pointing out their better pace and showing a good improvement from recent races.
“It was a very good race, and a well considered one by the team,” said Barrichello. “We started from the back but I fought all the way through and we almost ended up fighting for points. We did well to finish where we did today.”
Maldonado had to serve a drive-through penalty during the race for ignoring blue flags, and was given a further 30-second time penalty after the race for not letting Felipe Massa and Mark Webber lap him quickly enough. This second offence was committed just after Maldonado had served his first penalty.
“Our pace was a bit slow at the beginning of the race but improved when we switched onto the soft tyre,” said the Venezuelan, looking back on the race. “Unfortunately, my drive through penalty cost us a lot of time and potentially a better result. Our overall pace was better than it has been recently and I was happy with the car today.”
