Pastor Maldonado: People try to 'tarnish my image'

The Venezuelan has been involved in numerous collisions in his career, and received three penalties in the Hungarian Grand Prix alone. While admitting there are a number of occasions when he has been at fault for causing an incident, Maldonado says it has become an automatic reaction to blame him for anything he is involved in.

"Yes, I have responsibility on some occasions," Maldonado told GloboEsporte. "I also remember an experience that made me laugh. It was this year in China, when Jenson [Button] hit the back of my car. Everyone said I was to blame, because whenever I am involved in an incident everyone says I'm to blame.

"I read some news that I was responsible and should have been punished by the stewards. There is always pressure from the media, whether I'm right or wrong. There is always something that seeks to conceal my talent and tarnish my image in Formula 1."

And Maldonado says there are certain collisions which are dismissed due to who is involved rather than based on the severity of the incident.

"I'll be honest, if you ask me if I like, the answer is of course not. I prefer other kinds of opinion, especially the truth. Yes, I was involved in some incidents. But imagine, for example, if in the crash in Austria [when Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso collided] it was my car instead of the McLaren of Fernando.

"And what happened? Nothing, no one was punished, just a racing accident from two of the world champions. If I was involved, it would be a big scandal, there would be a huge media pressure."