The Venezuelan took top podium with Williams in the last season Spanish Grand Prix. 2013 F1 is his third season with the Grove-based team.
Williams the only team tested with their 2012 chassis FW34, they will debut its new FW35 design on the morning of Tuesday February 19 at the Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona.
"We are quite close to the top teams," Maldonado said in an interview with Sky Sports.
"It's always difficult to predict every year - you never know what the others are doing - but if we compare what we did last year and what we are doing for the next season, we have great potential and we feel confident with the package.
"We have been pushing so hard the last two years and we must concrete our potential. We won one race last year and I hope to continue like that. It's going to be very difficult; the changes in the car are not so big for everybody, the rules are more or less the same, but we've been working so hard and I hope to be more competitive than last year. (I have) more experience as well; fingers crossed to have a great season."
The Venezuelan also said about his new team-mate Valtteri Bottas, he has a lot of experience with Williams and he knows very well how the team works and the style.
"(I will have) more responsibility because it's going to be the first year of Valtteri in the car racing, and that will be a bit difficult at the beginning, but Valtteri has a lot of experience with the team and he knows very well how the team works and the style," Maldonado added.
"He's a good guy so I hope as well to have a great season together as a team. Our mission is to put the car in the top (places) as (often as) possible for us."
