In 2010, Vitaly Petrov became the first Russian to drive in F1, driving for the Renault team alongside Robert Kubica. The results were not spectacular, the best, a notable 5th place finish at the Hungarian GP, but he did establish a reputation as a committed competitor who needs further to develop racing technique to be considered a serious race winning contender. Petrov has strong financial backing and remains with Renault for the 2011 season despite finishing in 13th place in the drivers' championship.

Nationality & DoB	Russian , 08-09-84
Team	Renault
Car Number	10
Prior Teams	N/A
Championships	0
Races	19
Wins	0
Podiums	0
Pole Positions	0
Fastest Laps	1
First Race	2010 Bahrain Grand Prix
First Win	None
Last Win	N/A

In 2004 he raced in Russia, finishing second in the inaugural season of the Russian Lada Revolution Championship, he won the series in 2005 and also won the Russian Formula 1600 series.

Petrov competed in the Euroseries 3000 in 2006 and finished third in the championship that included four wins.

Moving into GP2 in 2006 as a replacement driver earned him a drive with the Campos GP team in 2007 finishing the season in 13th place in the standings. His 2008 season produced driving improvements ending the season in seventh. The team was rebranded Barwa Addax for 2009, and Petrov finished in second place behind the dominant Nico Hülkenberg.

Petrov secured a one year contract with Renault for the 2010 season.

Petrov had an inauspicious start to his F1 career, retiring from the first three races, (Bahrain, Australia and Malaysia), however in China he had his first finish and scored championship points by crossing the line in seventh position.

Petrov finished the next six races but was out of the point positions. (Nevertheless, he is likely to remember the Turkish GP, because following a collision late in the race he pitted to replace a punctured tyre, and then set the fastest lap of the race before finishing in fifteenth place).

In the next three races, Germany, Hungary and Belgium Petrov finished in the points. Hungary was particularly noteworthy, having qualified in seventh place (a season best) ahead of his far more experienced teammate Kubica, he went on to cross the line in a very creditable fifth place.  The Russian's competitive instincts were much in evidence in Belgium when he started in 23rd place because of a first session crash, but raced to a ninth place finish.

Retirements in Japan and Korea and a disappointing 16th in Brazil were not representative of his marked improvements of earlier rounds, however a sixth place finish in Abu Dhabi will be remembered more because he 'held back' Alonso and Webber after their pit stops and prevented Alonso from overtaking, despite persistent pressure from the championship chasing Spaniard.  

The other changes in the grid for 2011, amongst drivers considered by many to be better than Petrov certainly serve to demonstrate that a race seat can be more than just as a result of track performance. Petrov will need to become more consistent in 2011 if he is to retain a competitive drive for 2012.

F1 record

Season	Team	Races	Wins	Poles	F/Laps	Podiums	Points	Position
2010	Renault	19	0	0	1	0	27	13th