Pastor Maldonado: 'I am under contract with Lotus Renault until 2016

Lotus Renault driver Pastor Maldonado has said that he hopes his contract will be honoured into 2016, even if Renault buys the team.

Renault are thought to be in the closing stages of completing the takeover of the financially-troubled team, with the futures of the drivers still remaining unclear.

However, despite the impending takeover, the Venezuelan driver says that his relationship with Renault is good since his time with Williams and hopes that his contract will be honoured until the end of 2016.

According to Sky Sports News, when asked about whether his contract would be honoured under Renault, Maldonado said: "It depends, but it should be like that.

"I have a very good relationship with the team, the guys who work here at the track and at the factory. For sure the plan is to stay.

"But I've been working with Renault in the past a lot of years together and we have a good relationship as well. They are very strong. Maybe they are having problems with their engine, but nothing that they cannot solve. Whatever happens I hope and wish the best for the team."

Maldonado has already racked up eight retirements in 2015 and is currently 14th in the driver rankings with 12 points.