With Maldanado in the team, the only way is backwards IMO. Dropping Hulkenberg was one of the stupidest decisions I've seen since Schumi decided to come back, I've watched him for about 5 years come through the ranks, he has the making to be as good as Vettel, Rosberg etc. if you put him in the right car. How Maldanado is placed ahead of him I never know, he is by far the worst driver in the F1 field in cars that can make in into Q2 (Saying that, I think Glock, Luizzi, Trulli, Kovalainen are better than him aswell)
I may being a little harsh on a newcomer, but even in GP2 I was never impressed by him, doesn't seem to have the outright pace that the likes of Hamilton, Hulkenberg and Rosberg had when they were in GP2.