Pastor Maldonado close to signing for unnamed F1 team

Pastor Maldonado

The 28-year-old Venezuelan is expected to join either Lotus or Sauber after deciding to leave Williams.

Maldonado confirmed after Sunday's season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix that he is close to putting pen to paper on a contract for the 2014 campaign, but would not be drawn on which team has won the battle to sign him.

He told Autosport: "We are quite close,

"We have been working very hard since many months ago and now we are just waiting for confirmation - all the stuff that you need to do with contracts.

"But until you sign you never know. I prefer to sign and to be 100 per cent sure before we make an announcement."

Maldonado has no regrets over his decision to leave Williams as he prepares to start a new chapter in his career.

"I think it was the best decision for me, and for the team, because I did not feel quite well there." he added.

"It can happen even in the best family. The team I knew in 2011 changed a lot, and I was not full of confidence with the people around the team at the moment.

"The race team is fantastic, amazing, and I will miss them because together we have been fighting even in very tough conditions.

"All my guys have been working very hard for me and I have been working very hard for them, I will miss them."

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