Petrov, looking forward to it

The Renault off-season F1 Team was eventful, notably with the arrival of Eric Boullier, Genii Capital, Lada, and of course Vitaly Patrov in the seat of the R30, alongside the Pole Robert Kubica.

Runner-up in the GP2 Series last year, the Russian intends to make a name for himself in F1. But above all, we will have to tame this car in no way comparable to anything he has driven in the past.

“We always want more time for testing and more driving time, but that’s how it is! Declares the Renault driver. The problem was that I wasn't able to spend as much time as I would have liked working on setting up the car on the dry track. What I learned is that it is necessary to be very precise in every change you make during tuning because the smallest modification can make a huge difference in the behavior of the car?

The 25-year-old driver will make his debut on a Bahrain circuit that he knows well, but for him that matters little.

“In fact, I don't ask myself whether I like the circuit or not: what matters to me is that the car works well and that we can find a good balance. Bahrain is all about braking performance and, with the heavy fuel loads, this will be a real challenge. It will be quite easy to lock a wheel and flatten the tires in the first part of the race. »

Confident, Petrov nevertheless keeps his head on his shoulders and does not expect any wonders from this first test. An event which will be for him, above all, a discovery of this very particular discipline and environment.

?We don?t yet know where we stand compared to the competition and I haven?t driven the car with the new developments. I have to remain realistic for Bahrain because it is my first race and it will be a life-size learning experience. My goal will therefore be to develop my confidence throughout the weekend and try to be as close as possible to my teammate. »

During winter testing, the diamond firm seems to have hidden its game. The RE30 could be one of the good surprises at the start of the season. From this weekend, we will know a little more about the true potential of the French team, so different from that of last year. As for Vitaly Petrov, whatever happens, next Sunday he will leave an indelible mark on the world of F1 by becoming the first driver from his country to take part in a GP. But the Russian now hopes that his car will also allow him to shine with top-notch performances.

Find in your AUTOhebdo magazine, on newsstands today, a special Russia report, to find out everything about Vitaly Petrov and motorsport in this country which is increasingly involved in F1.