Halfway through Lap 26 of the British Grand Prix will mark the central point of the 2010 Formula 1 season. Before visiting a new-look Silverstone, GPUpdate.net reviews each driver’s performances, including highs and lows, from the first nine races of a highly dramatic championship.
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The first ever Formula 1 driver from Russia - one of the world’s greatest superpowers. No pressure there, then. Seriously, though, F1 is still yet to be fully understood in the country but the Vyborg man is certainly catching on as Russia builds up hopes of hosting its own race in the next five years.
As Nico Hülkenberg dominated last year’s GP2 title race, Petrov finished the season as runner-up and was then selected by Renault to complete an all-new line-up alongside Polish hot shot Robert Kubica. Some said it was all about money, with word having been that Petrov’s father was funding the drive, although Vitaly has confirmed Team Principal Eric Boullier’s early-season comments that he is a real racer.
Yes, there have been crashes and spins, not least going off into the gravel in Australia or shunts in final practice which left the Renault boys extremely busy before qualifying for two races in a row – China and Spain. The came another Saturday trip into a barrier in the form of his exit from Monte-Carlo qualifying.
On the brighter side, Petrov has proven his fearless ability to cut through traffic and is often a mover on opening laps. He also successfully defended from Lewis Hamilton – a master of slicing through a field, if there ever was one – in the opening laps of the Malaysian Grand Prix, which included a re-pass on the 2008 World Champion.
Vitaly surprised himself by scoring points as early as Shanghai (the first race he actually finished) and the team will now be hoping he surprises others by registering a few more top ten finishes before Abu Dhabi.
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Highlight: Four points scored as F1 chequered flag is first seen following highly credible drive in wet Chinese Grand Prix
Lowlight: Touches grass and spins into de la Rosa’s Sauber just metres off the start line in Canada
Championship position: 15th (121 points off lead)
Grid positions: 17-18-11-14-19-14-9-14-10
Average grid position: 14th
Finishing positions: R-R-R-7-11-R-15-17-14
Average finishing position: 18th
Retirements: 4 (Bahrain – suspension failure while running just outside the points, Australia – unforced error means day ends in Turn 3 gravel trap, Malaysia – gearbox problem after exciting battle with Hamilton, Monaco – a second suspension failure in a race this season)
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Vitaly Petrov
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