Maldonado targets new triumph in Monaco

Monte Carlo, Monaco, May 25, 2012 (AFP) - Two weeks after stunning Formula One with his victory at the Spanish Grand Prix, Pastor Maldonado is ready to do it again.

The 27-year-old Venezuelan, who claimed his and his country's maiden F1 victory in Barcelona, was fifth fastest in opening practice for this weekend's Monaco Grand Prix.

And that, he said, buoyed his hopes that he can reproduce the form for Williams that carried him to victory in Spain.

"The car is feeling really good this year and looks competitive in the running we have done today -- so we're happy with that," he said.

"It's a shame we didn't get to run as much during the afternoon, as we would have liked to have gathered a bit more data on the tyres, but we still have qualifying on Saturday.

"I love this circuit and I think it's going to be a competitive grand prix race for us this weekend."

His Wiliams team-mate Bruno Senna was less convincing in terms of pace during the two sessions, but admitted the intermittent weather had played havoc with his progress.

"It was great to be able to do both sessions today as it meant that we could learn bit by bit," he said.

"It's been quite a few years since I drove something competitive here so it was good to have extra time to remember the track.

"We're chipping away and the afternoon session was hampered by the rain, but every little helps."