Petrov eyes lead role after podium

It will be hard to wipe the smile off Vitaly Petrov's face over the next few days after he claimed an unexpected podium at the Australian Grand Prix

Petrov, derided as a pay book driver during his rookie season, showed up his critics with a faultless drive to finish behind Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton at Albert Park.

His P3 also sees him enter the record books as the first Russian to claim a podium.

"I am happy to be here sitting with these guys [Vettel and Hamilton]," Petrov said at the post-race press conference.

"All weekend was pretty good but after that we didn't know where we are. Coming here we had some new parts and from Friday practice our car looked very strong, and qualifying was not too bad.

"Then we focused on our race, and today did everything perfectly and we must be proud of our place today.

" The 26-year-old Petrov started sixth on the grid but he got off to a superb start and was up to P3 after the first two corners.

"The start was not bad and I tried to attack Fernando and then saw Jenson Button in front, so why brake earlier?" he said.

"I eased the brake and tried to pass both of them which was great.

" What will be pleasing for Petrov is the fact that he beat team-mate Nick Heidfeld, who was installed as Renault leader after Robert Kubica was ruled out for most of the season following a serious rally accident.

When asked if the result shows that he can lead the team, Petrov said: "I think I don't need to answer anything, you can see it also. But yes!"

Source: Planet-F1

Petrov confirms move to UK

Vitaly Petrov on Thursday confirmed he is relocating from Spain to England.

Before the Russian secured a new contract with Renault for 2011, team owner Gerard Lopez insisted the 26-year-old needed to "move to the UK" to be "close to the factory" and in an "English speaking environment".

At the Autosport International show in Birmingham, Petrov confirmed he has moved.

"First of all I’m now closer to the factory, and if I need to I can go any time," Petrov, whose new residence is reportedly near Renault’s Enstone headquarters in Oxfordshire, is quoted by the Press Association.

Petrov, who previously lived in Valencia, admitted he was worried recently that he would not be retained by Renault after his rookie season.

"I was a little bit nervous. It was my rookie year and I knew I had made mistakes, but I also had some good races, so it was 50-50," he said.

Source: Nextgen

Petrov penalised after taking out Hulkenberg

Vitaly Petrov will lose five-places on the grid at the next event in Korea.

Renault's Vitaly Petrov has been punished by the stewards following the F1 2010 Japanese Grand Prix today.

The stewards ruled post-race that he had breach the regulations by causing a collision with the Williams of Nico Hulkenberg at the start of the race. As a result he picks up a five-place grid penalty for the next event in Korea.

Speaking after the race, Petrov maintained that he had to move over because of Nick Heidfeld.

“I made a good start and managed to overtake [Felipe] Massa,” Petrov explained. “I was then going passed Hulkenberg with [Nick] Heidfeld on my right when he started to move left and so I also had to move left to avoid him. Unfortunately I hit the side of Hulkenberg's car and this is why I crashed.”

Hulkenberg, who was the innocent victim, added: “I had a bad start and I didn't get off the line at all. I then saw Petrov coming up behind me. He touched my front right wheel and that was it.

"You never want to finish a race that early, but today it happened and it was unfortunate for us both. The team are doing a really good job developing the car and that showed in our qualifying performance so it was a shame to finish that early.”

Source: Crash

Petrov to drive Renault on streets of Moscow

Russian capital city Moscow will welcome another Formula 1 car in mid-July as Vitaly Petrov, the country’s first ever F1 driver, visits with Renault. The Enstone team will be taking its 3-seater version in order to allow lucky fans the chance of enjoying a ride.

The weekend between the British and German Grands Prix will not mark the first time Renault F1 has visited Russia, as Fernando Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella were present in 2005, a year which also saw Jordan launch its final car in the city as Russian businessman Alex Schneider moved to the forefront of the team.

Petrov will drive around a 4.5-km (2.8-mi) temporary circuit around the iconic Red Square and near the walls of the Kremlin. Details of how fans can go on-board with the 2009 GP2 runner-up can be found on the Russian version of the team website as well as social networking site vKontakte.

“I’m really excited to be going to Moscow,” Vitaly commented. “It will be my first chance to drive an F1 car in Russia and the first time on the streets of a city.

“The Russian fans don’t usually have the chance to see an F1 car up close, so I will do my best to put on a special show. It’s also a good chance for me to thank the fans for all the support they have given me this year.”

Source: GP Update

Drivers take part in charity football match in Monaco

8 drivers from the pinnacle of motor racing have taken part in the event at Louis II

As usual in the few days prior to the Monaco GP, last Tuesday a few F1 drivers played a charity football match promoted annualy by Prince Albert at Louis II stadium.

Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa, Jarno Trulli, Nico Rosberg, Lucas di Grassi, Jaime Alguersuari and Vitaly Petrov were on the 'Nationale Piloti' team, who played the 'Friends of the Prince' team.

All money gathered with the match will be donated to the World Association of Children's Friends (AMADE), a Monaco-based charity which helps children all over the world.

In spite of the relaxed moods, the drivers demonstrated a lot of enthusiasm in the match. One of the drivers who played harder was Alonso. The match ended 4-2 in favour of the F1 drivers.

Source: Tazio
Translation from Portuguese: Fran

Petrov ordered to lose weight

Renault has told its rookie Russian driver Vitaly Petrov to lose some weight.

The German publication Auto Motor und Sport said the 25-year-old newcomer, who is bringing EUR15 million to the team in 2010, is significantly heavier than his teammate Robert Kubica.

Kubica and Petrov, both among F1's tallest drivers, are roughly the same height, but the report said Petrov weighs 10 kilograms more than the slight Pole.

Source: F1 Complete

Petrov: Perhaps Kubica will be Renault number two in F1 2010...

Vitaly Petrov might have already been uncharitably labelled a 'pay driver' for the €15 million he is reputedly bringing to Renault in F1 2010 - but the Russian argues his form should not be judged until the season gets underway in Bahrain



F1 2010 newcomer Vitaly Petrov has audaciously stated that just because he is a rookie, that does not necessarily mean he will automatically be the designated number two at Renault to grand prix-winning team-mate Robert Kubica this season – though speculation persists that the Russian's promised budget to secure his drive is still far from forthcoming.

It has been widely assumed that Petrov – who is due to make history in the curtain-raising Bahrain Grand Prix at Sakhir in just under three weeks' time, when he becomes the first of his countrymen ever to grace the grid at the highest level – will play a supporting role this year to Kubica, who some rate as a genuine world champion in-the-making. It is understood that according to the terms of his contract with the team, the reigning GP2 Series runner-up must tally at least a quarter of the Pole's points total to be sure of hanging onto his seat.

His perceived reputation as a 'pay driver' – even though the Enstone-based outfit's new team principal Eric Boullier insists the 25-year-old was signed predominantly for his talent and impressive results in the junior formulae – only adds to that expectation, but the man himself warns that it would be unwise to judge the situation too soon.

“The races have not yet begun, so maybe he (Kubica) will be the number two,” he told state-owned Russian news agency RIA Novosti. “Every driver is responsible for himself.”

The so-called 'Vyborg Rocket' is reputed to be bringing some €15 million to Renault in terms of personal sponsorship to help swell the coffers this year, but half of that sum has yet to materialise, and Russian daily sports newspaper Sovetsky Sport reports that a petition signed by fellow athletes has been sent to the country's prime minister and influential former president Vladimir Putin in a bid to raise the missing €7.5 million.

Petrov has also revealed that he had options to join two other teams for the forthcoming campaign – Sauber and Campos Meta 1 – going on to explain that it was Renault's experience and race and championship-winning pedigree that ultimately convinced him to sign on the dotted line.

“I chose Renault, just as I could have chosen Sauber, for one simple reason,” he is quoted as having said by Yalla F1. “I will learn more and faster with a team that has been around for a long time. It's better to be lost in the middle of a big city than in the middle of Siberia!”

Source: Crash.net

Jerez: Vettel takes over as the rain comes down

Sebastian Vettel set the pace at Jerez on Thursday morning as the rain came down and the red flag count came up.

With light rain falling and more forecast throughout the day, the second day of testing got underway in Portugal with Felipe Massa taking control of the timesheets with a 1:28.879.

Moments later, though, the Brazilian was forced back into the pits as Jerez experienced its first stoppage of the day. Virgin's Timo Glock, who had completed 15 laps in the opening 40 minutes, put his VR01 in the gravel, bringing out the red flags as the marshals went about returning his car to the pits.

Once underway again, Sebastian Vettel made a bid for Massa's P1 slot but had to settle for second place while Ferrari revealed that their driver would have an enforced rest in the pits.

"We have a technical issue: the stop will not be short... Nothing serious but it will take time to sort it out," the team reported.

With the rain coming down harder the drivers put in the laps but without making any impact on the timesheets. In fact, it was the rain that made the bigger impact, bringing out the second red flag due to standing water on the track.

The weather was so bad halfway through the morning that Williams reported that they were even having problems completing pit stop practices with Rubens Barrichello.

"The team are trying to do pit stop practice with RB but it's too wet - only two done so far. Keep your fingers crossed for some dry weather!" they announced.

Barrichello also suffered a minor off, which resulted in the third stoppage of the morning. However, the Brazilian was able to get his car back on track and return to the pits.

With the rain finally letting up, the drivers headed back out with Heikki Kovalainen completing his first timed lap as a Lotus driver.

The Finn had been out earlier in the day, putting in three installation laps before his rather smokey T127 forced him to park in the team's garage.

But after almost two hours in the pits, Kovalainen came out again to clock a 1:36.7, improving to a 1:34.932 before heading back into the pits.

Another late starter was Renault's Vitaly Petrov. He set his first time an hour before the midday break and it was a rather slow 1:42.527 for the Russian.

Meanwhile, back at the front, Vettel and Rosberg both launched attacks on the P1 slot with Vettel, who put in the morning's longest run of 25 laps, taking second place before Rosberg took the position from him. The German was just 0.085s off Massa's P1 time.

A few laps Vettel finally did it, taking the P1 slot with a 1:28.746.

But it was soon back to the pits as Kovalainen brought out the fourth red flag of the morning. The Finn lost control of his T12 and went off at Turn 3, putting his Lotus, minus its front wing, in the gravel.


Unofficial Times
1. S. Vettel Red Bull Racing RB6 1:28.746 36 laps
2. F. Massa Ferrari F10 1:28.879 +0.133 15 laps
3. N. Rosberg Mercedes GP W01 1:28.964 +0.218 36 laps
4. P. de la Rosa Sauber C29 1:29.691 +0.945 8 laps
5. P. di Resta Force India VJM-03 1:30.344 +1.598 33 laps
6. R. Barrichello Williams FW32 1:31.489 +2.743 47 laps
7. T. Glock Virgin Racing VR-01 1:31.557 +2.811 31 laps
8. S. Buemi Toro Rosso STR5 1:32.678 +3.932 43 laps
9. L. Hamilton McLaren MP4-25 1:32.934 +4.188 27 laps
10. H. Kovalainen Lotus F1 T127 1:33.554 +4.808 26 laps
11. V. Petrov Renault R30 1:35.297 +6.551 12 laps

Source: Planet F1

Petrov's Renault race seat in Jeopardy

Vitaly Petrov's Formula One is reportedly on the line after a bank loan needed to pay Renault was put on hold.

It is a known fact that Petrov, who finished runner-up in last year's GP2 Championship, is paying Renault an estimated £13 million for his chance at Formula One.

But, according to reports in the Russian media, his race-seat is in jeopardy as his father, Alexander Petrovic, has yet to secure a loan to pay Renault the first installment.

Petrovic, who has had to put his property up as security for the loan, told sovsport.ru that the money from the bank has "still not been received."

He added that if Renault weren't paid by the first of March they would replace his son with another driver.

25-year-old Petrov made his Renault debut at Valencia last week, finishing six out of the seven drivers in action on Day Three.

Source: Planet F1

Petrov confirmed as Renault launch R30

Russian driver Vitaly Petrov will partner Robert Kubica at Renault, the team confirmed on Sunday. The news came as the team revealed their 2010 car at Spain’s Valencia circuit, where pre-season testing begins on Monday.

Petrov, 25, was runner-up in the 2009 GP2 Series and will become the first Russian to compete in Formula One racing when he takes to the grid in Bahrain next month. China’s Ho-Pin Tung was confirmed as Renault’s third driver, with Belgian Jerome d'Ambrosio and Czech driver Jan Charouz as reserves.

"This is a great opportunity for me and I'm really looking forward to working with the team this season,” said Petrov. “I've always dreamed of racing in Formula One and so to make my debut with a top team like Renault is very exciting. The first race is just over a month away so I will make sure I spend as much time as possible with the team over the next few weeks so that I am fully prepared in time for Bahrain."

Renault team principal Eric Boullier commented: "This is a very special day for Vitaly and we welcome him into the team. As a rookie, we recognise that Vitaly will have a lot to learn this season, but his performances in GP2 last year were outstanding and confirmed that he is ready to make the step up to Formula One. With Robert alongside him, Vitaly has the perfect role model to learn from and I'm confident he will deliver on the promise he has shown throughout his career."

Kubica and Petrov revealed the R30 to the assembled media, complete with its new black and yellow livery - the iconic colours made famous by Renault in the 1980s. With stable aero regulations the R30 is a mixture of evolution and revolution, and is much more svelte than its predecessor. In particular the rear of the car has been considerably reworked to allow the car to make the most of the double-decker diffusers that were first seen last year. Changes have also been made to the architecture of the chassis to adapt to the refuelling ban, which has required the installation of a much larger fuel tank.

Speaking at the presentation, Boullier praised the team's efforts in delivering the new car in time for the first test: "We've been working flat-out during the winter to ensure that we begin the new season in the best shape possible. The R30 should be a competitive, strong and reliable car, and we've opted for an aggressive development strategy throughout the season. Now we're here ready for the first test and we're all excited to see if the car performs as we think it will."

Both Kubica and Petrov were thrilled to see their new car and spoke of their hopes for the season ahead: "The team has been working on the new car for a long time and it's clear that we are moving in the right direction," said Kubica. "Now we need to maximise the winter tests to keep up this momentum and continue improving the car. Our priority is to make the car easy to drive because the new rules favour cars that are not too sensitive - we need a car that behaves consistently in a wide range of conditions."

Petrov added: "The new car looks stunning and the colours remind everybody of Renault's great history in the sport. I can't wait to drive the car for the first time and start working with the team."

The R30 will get its first run at Valencia on Monday and Renault willremain at the circuit until Wednesday evening to complete the first pre-season test session.

Source: Formula1.com