F1: Maldonado gets new chassis after crash

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Pastor Maldonado will be forced to switch to a new Lotus chassis after crashing heavily during practice for Formula 1's Singapore Grand Prix.

The Venezuelan driver lost control of his car at the midway point of the second Friday practice session, severely damaging the front-right corner of his E22 against the outside wall at the left-hand Turn 10. Lotus will build up a new car for Maldonado ahead of Saturday's final practice session.

Maldonado has suffered several solo crashes this season, and conceded this latest shunt was solely down to his own error of judgment.

"I was on the second lap of the tires, and I just lost it," he said. "It was a mistake. The car was too loose and I just lost it in the middle of the corner and the wall was there."

"I did my first lap, which was my best, and then I crashed. I just had less grip from the tires. It happens. We need to keep pushing and tomorrow will be another day. It's only free practice, it doesn't matter."

Maldonado added he had experienced no difference following the FIA's clampdown on radio communication ahead of this weekend's event.

"It's exactly the same as before for me," he said. "Normally we don't talk about braking later, it's more about things like the power-unit settings."