It's a big year for...Pastor Maldonado

The Venezuelan has secured the move up the grid he feels his talent deserves and now it is time for him to deliver against one of F1's future talents in Romain Grosjean.

And then's there's the question of how Maldonado reacts if Lotus are off the pace - or slower than Williams! The Enstone-based team's financial problems have been well documented and their desperation for the oil dollars the Venezuelan brings with him was clear for all to see at the end of 2013. The team have lost a number of key staff - notably Boullier and James Allison - over the last year and badly struggled for mileage with their new car in testing, whilst Williams look in good shape with their new Mercedes power unit. Maldonado made it clear he felt he was too good to be at Williams - when asked during testing if he was regretting the move, the Venezuelan described it as "the best move ever" - so how will he react if the E22 languishes in the midfield and Felipe Massa and Bottas challenge for podiums instead? He's certainly going to be under a lot of pressure to justify both his transfer and "best move ever" claim if the E22 struggle while Williams prosper. A final obstacle to overcome for Maldonado is arguably the biggest of the lot - he wasn't the man they wanted in the driving seat. During the Indian GP weekend last October, Boullier told Sky Sports News that Nico Hulkenberg was the man he wanted to replace Kimi Raikkonen: "I would love to [sign Hulkenberg]. This is the recommendation that I gave to my board." When it was revealed Raikkonen would miss the final two races of the season, it was Hulkenberg Lotus tried to bring in from Sauber - not Maldonado. Thus, it seems it is only his oil dollars that put Maldonado in the Lotus this year and he will have a lot of work to do to shake of the 'pay driver' tag in 2014. It's not a battle his reputation can afford to lose. @WilliamEslerF1