The sponsorship-laden Venezuelan will leave Williams in two races' time after three turbulent years at Grove with his breakthrough victory in last May's Spanish GP bookended by two seasons of frustration and disappointing results.

This year's travails, in which Maldonado and Williams have scored just a solitary point, has culminated in the South American walking out of the team - and making no secret of his relief at leaving.

"I think I delivered more to the team than they [did] for me," he told Sky Sports F1 after arriving in Austin for this weekend's United States GP. "We found a victory, we found very good results last year. Even this year we have been doing quite well [in the] races. But this is not everything. I'm waiting for something more, I'm expecting something more from Formula 1."

Maldonado is believed to be in the frame to replace Kimi Raikkonen at Lotus and, if he loses that battle to Nico Hulkenberg, could join Sauber. A switch to Force India is another possibility - but surely the only other that Maldonado and his backers would consider with backmarkers Marussia and Caterham the only other teams with seats still available for 2014.

"I feel quite good, I am leaving at an important time for my career," he added. "For sure, I know. I have a couple of options. We are still working on it and I really hope to have some clear answers soon."

Who's where in 2014?

Red Bull: Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo.

Ferrari: Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen.

Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

Lotus: To be confirmed.

McLaren: Jenson Button and Kevin Magnussen.

Sauber: To be confirmed.

Force India: To be confirmed.

Williams: Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas.

Toro Rosso: Jean-Eric Vergne and Daniil Kvyat.

Marussia: Jules Bianchi with second driver not yet confirmed.

Caterham: To be confirmed.