Williams CEO Adam Parr has dismissed suggestions that Pastor Maldonado is a pay driver as "repulsive and irrelevant".
The Venezuelan driver will replace Nico Hulkenberg at Williams for the 2011 season, despite the young German impressing during his debut season.
A pole position in Brazil was not enough to save Hulkenberg from the axe, and with Maldonado receiving backing from the Venezuelan government, there were immediately suggestions that the signing of Maldonado was financially driven, something Parr has rubbished.
"The guy just won the GP2 with a rookie team with more victories than anyone. The mere fact that we have to talk about it is absurd. It's a shame, really," Parr told motor21.com
The Briton went on to add that "money is irrelevant" and that Williams were not the only ones to rate Maldonado's talent and that they planned to form a long term relationship with the driver.
However, Parr admits that Hulkenberg is still thought of fondly by the Grove-based team and that a return would not be out of the question.
"I would like to see him at Williams again," Parr explained.
"He has the dedication and the passion to be a great driver and I was so impressed with his maturity and professionalism.
"I hope he finds a position somewhere else but on the other hand I would like to maintain a relationship with him," he added.
