Maldonado survives 'big moment' for more points

Fresh from his first points of the season in Canada, Pastor Maldonado turned in another fine top ten finish in the Austrian Grand Prix, the Venezuelan exerting some impressive car control in the process.

Qualifying 11th but starting tenth, Maldonado's strategy of beginning on the prime tyres and saving fuel for the first stint would see him come on strong in the closing stages of the race as he engaged in a tussle for seventh with Max Verstappen.

However, Maldonado was made to work hard to pass the youngster, initially surviving a leery moment out of turn one, before a sharp change of line down the home straight under DRS saw his Lotus very nearly snap away from him.

Getting the car under control and then passing Verstappen when he ran wide at turn one, Maldonado's second consecutive seventh place finish puts him just four points shy of the overall top ten now.

"It's great to get another seventh position and the points that come with it. It was a big moment fighting with Max. The super soft tyres were very hot so losing their grip and you lose a lot of downforce close to the car ahead, but everything was under control!

"I wanted to get the position and I think we deserved it. It seems like we're coming into a good time of the season for us so we'll all keep working hard to continue scoring points."