Vitaly Petrov: “Keep working hard”

Qualified in Q3 without being able to participate due to an engine problem, Vitaly Petrov managed to glean two small points in the race at the end of a somewhat complicated weekend for the team?enstone.

Vitaly, the weekend was complicated but your determination allowed you to score two points..
The race wasn't great, but in the end it brought two points and that's always important for the team, especially at this time of the season.

The team had bad luck in qualifying in Shanghai. But your lap in Q2 proved that the car is very fast. Is this encouraging for the future?
The car is very good. In qualifications we know what we need to work on. We have to continue to work hard because we are not yet where we would like to be.

After three races, how do you feel about the team?
The team has made big progress compared to last year and the car is much more pleasant to drive. Its balance suits me well, we just need to work on optimal use of the Pirelli tires. We have already obtained two podiums and I hope that we will resume the series in Turkey.

What is your opinion on the DRS and the reintroduction of the SREC?
The SREC (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) saved my life on Sunday! (smile). It allowed me to keep my position several times and also allowed me to overtake a few times. When you're fighting in a group with two other cars, it's difficult to use the rear wing (DRS: Drag Réduction System or ART in French: Aileron Réacteur de Dragée), but it definitely provides an advantage.

Finally, a look at Turkey. Do you like racing on the Istanbul Park circuit?
I really like this circuit and I have great racing memories there, especially in GP2 (he won in Istanbul in 2009). My race last year here was also pretty exciting and I can't wait to come back to Istanbul.

Discover in your AUTOhebdo magazine the analysis of the Chinese Grand Prix by our special correspondents in Shanghai.