Petrov Secures New Lotus Renault Deal

[Mark H]

Vitaly Petrov will continue driving for Lotus Renault GP for another two seasons after chiefs at the rebranded team gave him an extended two-year contract.

 

Petrov, who became the first Russian to compete in Formula 1 at the start of this year, had been made to wait on his future at the team over recent months while his bosses assessed whether he deserved a second season after a mixed rookie campaign.

 

However the Enstone-based outfit has now decided to keep him alongside team leader Robert Kubica for a further two seasons and its chairman Gerard Lopez, whose Genii investment company now jointly owns the former Renault team with Group Lotus, is convinced Petrov has the talent to become more consistent in 2011.

 

"We're delighted to have Vitaly on board for another two years," Lopez said in a team statement. "Last season, he showed on several occasions that he clearly has the potential to deliver. "It was just a matter of putting everything together during the same weekend, race after race, and this will be his target for 2011." Renault began to tap into the Russian sponsorship market during last season on the back of the signing of Petrov and Lopez believes there is more potential to exploit there. "Also, thanks to Vitaly and the team, Russia is opening up to Formula 1," he added. "Over the past few months, we've established close links with this country and with some of its strongest companies. "We're looking forward to building on this special relationship and turning it into a very successful adventure over the next two seasons." Petrov's seat appeared under serious threat towards the end of the season with established F1 names such as Kimi Raikkonen, Nick Heidfeld and Timo Glock linked with the position alongside Robert Kubica for 2011. Team boss Eric Boullier says that in the end continuity was important for the team as it looks to continue its improvement into the new campaign, and reckons Petrov will begin to get closer to team leader Kubica more regularly. "We are very pleased to confirm that Vitaly will be staying with us for 2011 and 2012, in order that both he and the team can build on a promising 2010 campaign," Boullier said. "The entire team has been working flat out over the past months to improve our competitiveness, and a stable driver line-up is essential to achieving our targets. "Robert Kubica provides a remarkable benchmark for both speed and consistency, and we are certain that Vitaly will move closer to this level of performance next year." Petrov finished 13th in the 2010 drivers' championship, his 27-point haul 109 points short of Kubica's total in eighth place.

 

 

 

http://www.itv-f1.co...=49841&PO=49841

[JonS]

Sounds promising. I did like Petrov, he had some good points during the season, but just seemed to be a little on the unlucky side. Confidence will come with experience and he is certainly partnered with good experience in Kubica. Potential for podiums for sure!

[daves2111s]

It's the money he brings with him!