Williams has opted to change the engine in the back of Pastor Maldonado's FW35 ahead of the M💖alaysian Grand Prix, wary of a repeat of last season's failure

The team reported pist𓆉on damage as the reason for the change, which will not cost the Venezuelan any p🐎laces on the grid, having checked the engine over after qualifying. Maldonado failed to set a time in the second phase of Saturday's rain-affected session and will start 16th as a result.

Ironically, the third-year driver was forced out of last season's Malaysian race by a p𒉰iston-related engine failure. The Venezuelan, who would go on to win the Spanish Grand Prix a couple of months later, was running in tenth spot when smoke appeared from the rear his car, and investigations carried out between the Malaysian and Chinese rounds 'quickly identified♐ it as a piston failure'.

Although Williams can no longer use the offending unit - which was due to be consigned to practice duties after re🍎aching its 'life mileage' at Sepang - in either qualifying or a race for the remainder ofꦕ the season, Maldonado will not be penalised for the change as he can merely fit another engine from the eight allowed for the year.