Petrov confirmed at Renault

Captain Hammer · Post by **Captain Hammer** » 30 Jan 2010, 22:57

shinji wrote:Is he the first Russian F1 driver? Good achievement for him if he is, I certainly can't think of another one.

Roman Rusinov was Midland's test driver back in 2006, but he neither raced nor participated in Friday testing.

Post by **Nuppiz** » 30 Jan 2010, 23:06

Captain Hammer wrote:
shinji wrote:Is he the first Russian F1 driver? Good achievement for him if he is, I certainly can't think of another one.

Roman Rusinov was Midland's test driver back in 2006, but he neither raced nor participated in Friday testing.

So was Sergei Zlobin in 2002 for Minardi, but he never took part in a race meeting either.

Captain Hammer wrote:Yes, but when Petrov was born, it had long since become Russian territory. He competes under a Russian racing licence, has a Russian name, speaks the Russian language and carries Russian sponsors. So he's Russian. I know the Finns are upset over the departure of Raikkonen, but I don't think the Russians will let them claim Petrov as their own.

And I don't think that many of us Finns even want to claim him "as our own". He's 100% Russian, and his only connection to Finland is (apparently) that he was born in a formerly Finnish town.

He's not like Nico Rosberg, who, despite racing in F1 with a German licence, has the nationality of both Finland and Germany and is the son of Keke Rosberg. Like the popular joke goes, to us he's a Finn when he succeeds and a German when he fails.

Bleu · Post by **Bleu** » 31 Jan 2010, 08:12

Our GP2 commentator had an interview with him and Petrov told he visits Finland very often. That's because he always begins his travelling to races via Helsinki.

LionZoo · Post by **LionZoo** » 31 Jan 2010, 08:43

TeamTipper wrote:Does the chinese driver Ho-Pin Tung bring some cash/sponsors from China?

I'm in China right now and I gotta say nobody really cares about Ho-Pin Tung at the moment. His Chinese is atrocious.

Mind you, that's not to say I wouldn't jump up and down waving Chinese flags if he were to make it to F1...

Ross Prawn · Post by **Ross Prawn** » 31 Jan 2010, 09:22

WeirdKerr wrote:
shinji wrote:
Captain Hammer wrote:
Is he the first Russian F1 driver? Good achievement for him if he is, I certainly can't think of another one.

and its the first all east european team (well driver-wise anyway) i hope stefan gp come in next year and sign HWNSNBM and Thomas Enge as drivers.....

Its all part of Bernies jingoistic masterplan. Expect Renault to be bought out by Gazprom anytime soon. Or even better, Lada.

DonTirri · Post by **DonTirri** » 31 Jan 2010, 09:54

Personally I find it rather surprising that it took this long to get a russian driver in F1.
I mean, even if there wasn't anyone with talent, Russians have the possibility of being the payingest paydrivers ever, seeing as the country seems to have a frakload of millionares with nothing to do with their money.

You know, people like Roman Abrahimovits, who has ran Chelsea Fc out of his own pocket for god knows how long

In a way though, could Petrov be the start of a Russian "invasion" like the one that happened in Ice Hockey after the soviets finally went to NHL.

Cynon · Post by **Cynon** » 31 Jan 2010, 10:03

Ross Prawn wrote:
Its all part of Bernies jingoistic masterplan. Expect Renault to be bought out by Gazprom anytime soon. Or even better, Lada.

Doesn't Renault own a stake in Lada anyway?

RejectSteve · Post by **RejectSteve** » 31 Jan 2010, 10:46

Cynon wrote:
Ross Prawn wrote:
Its all part of Bernies jingoistic masterplan. Expect Renault to be bought out by Gazprom anytime soon. Or even better, Lada.

Doesn't Renault own a stake in Lada anyway?

Yep, 25%. Also, the Renault Roadshow has gone to Moscow on a few occassions - its definately a market they've had their eyes on.

fjackdaw · Post by **fjackdaw** » 31 Jan 2010, 12:14

I believe Minardi driver Nicolas Kiesa was part Russian, though he seems to have raced under a Danish flag.

Captain Hammer · Post by **Captain Hammer** » 31 Jan 2010, 12:20

Next up ... Plamen Kralev!

What? Somebody had to say it.

Stop looking at me like that.

Post by **DemocalypseNow** » 31 Jan 2010, 12:45

http://www.autosport.com/news/grapevine.php/id/81142

Autosport wrote:...with sources suggesting he visited the Enstone factory last week to further his talks.

What can I say...Me 1 Autosport 0 :mrgreen:

Phoenix · Post by **Phoenix** » 31 Jan 2010, 12:55

Captain Hammer wrote:Next up ... Plamen Kralev!

What? Somebody had to say it.

Stop looking at me like that.

Don't worry. I'd have suggested Niko Bellic :oops:

Yannick · Post by **Yannick** » 31 Jan 2010, 14:04

Petrov is a good choice for the team. He has proven to be quick, which is important for the sporting side of things, and has a lot of backing, which is important for the business side of things. Gen2 surely will want to hand out a lot of the money he brings as revenue to its stakeholders.
That's kind of the anti-skunkworks approach, as USF1 would say.

Anyway, the lead driver role at USF1 is now the only seat that remains available. Have they even talked to Nick Heidfeld? It would be a shame if he were on the sidelines since he really performed well this year, as far as the car would allow him.

shinji · Post by **shinji** » 31 Jan 2010, 14:57

Captain Hammer wrote:Next up ... Plamen Kralev!

What? Somebody had to say it.

Stop looking at me like that.

I'm just surprised it was you.

elho · Post by **elho** » 31 Jan 2010, 15:36

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 31 Jan 2010, 15:38

kostas22 wrote:http://www.autosport.com/news/grapevine.php/id/81142

Autosport wrote:...with sources suggesting he visited the Enstone factory last week to further his talks.

What can I say...Me 1 Autosport 0

Yeah, but it actually says:

Russia could have its first Formula 1 driver in a matter of hours, as Vitaly Petrov's arrival at the Valencia track on Sunday heightened speculation he will be announced at Renault later on.

Let's not count our chickens before they are hatched...

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 31 Jan 2010, 15:39

elho wrote:

Although this photo does suggest something, can't quite place my finger on it....

elho · Post by **elho** » 31 Jan 2010, 15:54

Renault reveals the R30, confirms Petrov

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81147

fjackdaw · Post by **fjackdaw** » 31 Jan 2010, 15:56

"Twenty-five year-old Petrov, last year's runner-up in the GP2 series, becomes the first Formula 1 driver in the history of the sport."

Methinks Autosport have forgotten a vital word here.

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 31 Jan 2010, 15:57

elho wrote:Renault reveals the R30, confirms Petrov

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81147

OK, ok, point taken. Just about to post this myself. Always somebody there to beat you to it. Particularly at weekends...

Valrys · Post by **Valrys** » 31 Jan 2010, 16:01

elho wrote:Renault reveals the R30, confirms Petrov

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81147

If they haven't changed that article yet, notice the line that says "Petrov will become the first Formula 1 driver in the history of the sport" :lol:

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 31 Jan 2010, 16:08

Can't judge Petrov on merit - don't really follow GP2. I wonder, however, who is calling the shots on these decisions - Renault? Genii? Both?

WeirdKerr · Post by **WeirdKerr** » 31 Jan 2010, 16:18

Phoenix wrote:
Captain Hammer wrote:Next up ... Plamen Kralev!

What? Somebody had to say it.

Stop looking at me like that.

Don't worry. I'd have suggested Niko Bellic

Who is Niko Bellic?

shinji · Post by **shinji** » 31 Jan 2010, 16:31

WeirdKerr wrote:
Phoenix wrote:
Captain Hammer wrote:Next up ... Plamen Kralev!

What? Somebody had to say it.

Stop looking at me like that.

Don't worry. I'd have suggested Niko Bellic

Who is Niko Bellic?

Main character in the game 'Grand Theft Auto 4'. He's Eastern European.

WeirdKerr · Post by **WeirdKerr** » 31 Jan 2010, 16:37

well duh... *slaps forehead" silly me for not knowing that... i play the game but mostly in multiplayer lol

midgrid · Post by **midgrid** » 31 Jan 2010, 16:48

fjackdaw wrote:"Twenty-five year-old Petrov, last year's runner-up in the GP2 series, becomes the first Formula 1 driver in the history of the sport."

Methinks Autosport have forgotten a vital word here.

Don't they mean "the finest Formula 1 driver that Grand Prix racing has produced"? :lol:

midgrid · Post by **midgrid** » 31 Jan 2010, 16:49

Petrov will be the first Russian F1 driver, but I there were a few wealthy Russian émigrés who raced in Europe during the inter-war period, after the Russian Revolution.

FullMetalJack · Post by **FullMetalJack** » 31 Jan 2010, 18:55

midgrid wrote:
fjackdaw wrote:"Twenty-five year-old Petrov, last year's runner-up in the GP2 series, becomes the first Formula 1 driver in the history of the sport."

Methinks Autosport have forgotten a vital word here.

Don't they mean "the finest Formula 1 driver that Grand Prix racing has produced"?

Nah, nobody can take away that title from Katayama, not even HWNSWNBM, or even Gugelmin.

Waris · Post by **Waris** » 31 Jan 2010, 19:10

I'm very disappointed with Éric Boullier. He might not have mentioned Villeneuve, but Robert Kubica apparently said it was likely that he was going to be his team-mate. I'm still very much under the impression that they were going to sign Villeneuve until they succumbed to Petrov's $15 million.
Oh well. I hate to come off as whiny, so this'll be the last thing I say about it.

Post by **Nuppiz** » 31 Jan 2010, 20:58

Bleu wrote:Our GP2 commentator had an interview with him and Petrov told he visits Finland very often. That's because he always begins his travelling to races via Helsinki.

Well, 1,6 Finns in Formula 1 this year, then? Kovalainen, Rosberg (0,5), Petrov (0,05) and Vettel (0,05, as he reportedly loves Finland as has often been reported to have spoken and sung a bit in Finnish, once he even spoke a few words in Finnish in a TV interview!)

shinji · Post by **shinji** » 31 Jan 2010, 21:04

Nuppiz wrote:
Bleu wrote:Our GP2 commentator had an interview with him and Petrov told he visits Finland very often. That's because he always begins his travelling to races via Helsinki.

Well, 1,6 Finns in Formula 1 this year, then? Kovalainen, Rosberg (0,5), Petrov (0,05) and Vettel (0,05, as he reportedly loves Finland as has often been reported to have spoken and sung a bit in Finnish, once he even spoke a few words in Finnish in a TV interview!)

Clutching at straws much?

You have Kovalainen, he may not be great but he's more than most countries have.

Captain Hammer · Post by **Captain Hammer** » 31 Jan 2010, 21:32

CarlosFerreira wrote:Can't judge Petrov on merit - don't really follow GP2. I wonder, however, who is calling the shots on these decisions - Renault? Genii? Both?

Renault would have done the legwork, Genii the final decision based on Renault's input. After all, Renault are a racing team, an Genii are venture capitalists. I know that if I were Genii, I'd tust to Renault to know what was best for the team.

Post by **Nuppiz** » 31 Jan 2010, 23:08

shinji wrote:
Nuppiz wrote:
Bleu wrote:Our GP2 commentator had an interview with him and Petrov told he visits Finland very often. That's because he always begins his travelling to races via Helsinki.

Well, 1,6 Finns in Formula 1 this year, then? Kovalainen, Rosberg (0,5), Petrov (0,05) and Vettel (0,05, as he reportedly loves Finland as has often been reported to have spoken and sung a bit in Finnish, once he even spoke a few words in Finnish in a TV interview!)

Clutching at straws much?

You have Kovalainen, he may not be great but he's more than most countries have.

Oh, it's just that I'm not used to have no Finnish drivers in competitive cars. I started watching F1 regularly only after Häkkinen's first victory, so... it's back to early 90's then I 'spose.

Cynon · Post by **Cynon** » 01 Feb 2010, 04:59

Nuppiz wrote:
shinji wrote:
Nuppiz wrote:Well, 1,6 Finns in Formula 1 this year, then? Kovalainen, Rosberg (0,5), Petrov (0,05) and Vettel (0,05, as he reportedly loves Finland as has often been reported to have spoken and sung a bit in Finnish, once he even spoke a few words in Finnish in a TV interview!)

Clutching at straws much?

You have Kovalainen, he may not be great but he's more than most countries have.

Oh, it's just that I'm not used to have no Finnish drivers in competitive cars. I started watching F1 regularly only after Häkkinen's first victory, so... it's back to early 90's then I 'spose.

Have some pity on the Americans here, how long was it since there was a competitive American in F1? ... ... almost 28 years! The US broadcasters got no mania over Scott Speed's performances, because there wasn't anything to be manic about!

RejectSteve · Post by **RejectSteve** » 01 Feb 2010, 06:23

Cynon wrote:
Nuppiz wrote:Oh, it's just that I'm not used to have no Finnish drivers in competitive cars. I started watching F1 regularly only after Häkkinen's first victory, so... it's back to early 90's then I 'spose.

Have some pity on the Americans here, how long was it since there was a competitive American in F1? ... ... almost 28 years! The US broadcasters got no mania over Scott Speed's performances, because there wasn't anything to be manic about!

Manic-depressive :lol:

Bleu · Post by **Bleu** » 01 Feb 2010, 06:56

Didn't Michael Andretti have a good car?

DonTirri · Post by **DonTirri** » 01 Feb 2010, 06:58

Nuppiz wrote:Oh, it's just that I'm not used to have no Finnish drivers in competitive cars. I started watching F1 regularly only after Häkkinen's first victory, so... it's back to early 90's then I 'spose.

Well, luckily I am in a better position than you, a Finn in a non-competetive car is just return of the old times for me, Jerez 97 was a HUGE occasion to the little 9 year old me because I had watched Mika(s) struggle in bad machinery without chances to win for 4 years at that point.

Phoenix · Post by **Phoenix** » 01 Feb 2010, 15:07

Bleu wrote:Didn't Michael Andretti have a good car?

Yeah, but he was unable to use it properly.

Whole Spanish Press · Post by **Whole Spanish Press** » 06 Feb 2010, 18:45

kostas22 wrote:http://www.autosport.com/news/grapevine.php/id/81142

Autosport wrote:...with sources suggesting he visited the Enstone factory last week to further his talks.

What can I say...Me 1 Autosport 0

Kid, if you are beating minor leaguers, you are minor league. Take care.

:lol:

Phoenix · Post by **Phoenix** » 07 Feb 2010, 00:16

No-one can beat the mighty Spanish Inquis...I mean, press :lol: