Vitaly Petrov

Unlike most top drivers, Petrov did not begin his career in karting, as there was very little motorsport where he lived.{{cite news|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81165|title=Q & A with Vitaly Petrov|first=Jonathan|last=Noble|work=autosport.com|publisher=Haymarket Publishing|date=31 January 2010|access-date=31 January 2010}} He began competing in motorsport in 1998, when he took part in rally sprints and ice races.{{cn|date=March 2023}} Afterwards he began competing in the Russian Lada Cup in 2001 and gained {{Interlanguage link|Oksana Kosachenko|lt=Oksana Kosachenko|ru}} as his manager in 2001.{{cite news |last=Никишин |first=Михаил (Nikishin, Mikhail) |url=http://www.newsrm.ru/sport/V_serdce__bolid_10-04-26 |title=В сердце – болид |trans-title=There is a fireball in the heart |language=ru |work=Новости Мордовии и Саранска «Столица С» (newsrm.ru) |date=26 April 2010 |access-date=24 March 2021 |archive-date=5 September 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905065703/http://www.newsrm.ru/sport/V_serdce__bolid_10-04-26 |url-status=dead }} He remained in the series for 2002 dominating the championship, winning each round to amass the maximum points total of 500.{{cite web|title=Career statistics at Driver Database|url=http://www.driverdb.com/drivers/467/career/|work=Driverdb.com|access-date=27 August 2012}}

In 2003, Petrov began racing in the Formula Renault championships. His main campaign was in the Italian Formula Renault Championship for Euronova Racing, finishing 19th overall. During the year he competed in several rounds of the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0, the Formula Renault 2.0 UK series, and finished fourth in the British Formula Renault Winter Series at the end of the year, taking one win. He also made his debut in Euro Formula 3000 at Cagliari.

In 2004, Petrov turned his attention to the inaugural season of the Russian Lada Revolution championship. He started every race from pole position, but finished as runner-up. He also made selected appearances in Formula Renault and Euro F3000. Petrov remained in Russia for 2005, winning the Lada Revolution Championship with ten wins and the Russian Formula 1600 series with five wins.

In 2006, Petrov raced in Euroseries 3000 with Euronova Racing. He finished third in the standings, scoring nine podiums in eighteen races including four wins at Hungaroring, Mugello Circuit, Silverstone Circuit and Circuit de Catalunya.{{cite web|url=http://www.speedsport-magazine.com/motorsport/formula-level2/euroseries-3000/2006/calendar.html|title=2006 Euroseries 3000|work=speedsport-magazine.com|publisher=Speedsport Magazine|access-date=31 January 2010}} Also he participated in the Brno round of the 2006 F3000 International Masters season, where he took a pole position. During the 2006 season Petrov made his debut in the GP2 Series for David Price Racing. He replaced French driver Olivier Pla, who lost his sponsorship from Direxiv in the team from the German round onwards.{{cite news|url=http://www.crash.net/gp2/news/67396/1/petrov_in_as_dpr_says_goodbye_to_pla_direxiv.html|title=Petrov in as DPR says goodbye to Pla, Direxiv|date=24 July 2006|work=crash.net|access-date=31 January 2010}}

File:Vitaly Petrov 2009 GP2 Turkey.jpg at the Turkish round.]]

In 2007 he moved to Campos Grand Prix, where he joined Giorgio Pantano.{{cite news|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/56534|title=Campos sign Pantano, Petrov for '07|publisher=Haymarket Publications|work=autosport.com|date=31 January 2007|access-date=31 January 2007}} He scored five-point-scoring positions from 21 races and took his first victory at Valencia{{cite news|url=http://www.crash.net/gp2/news/68235/1/unexpected_win_for_petrov.html|title=Unexpected win for Petrov.|work=crash.net|date=29 September 2007|access-date=31 January 2010}} on his way to finishing 13th in the standings. He competed in several Le Mans Series races throughout the year, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a Courage Compétition LMP2 car. The car completed 198 laps before retiring from the race, being classified in 38th.

Petrov finished in third position with one win at Sepang International Circuit{{cite news|url=http://www.crash.net/gp2/news/68404/1/petrov_out_of_the_chaos.html|title=Petrov out of the chaos|date=22 March 2008|work=crash.net|access-date=31 January 2010}} in the 2008 GP2 Asia Series season for Campos, behind champion Romain Grosjean and Sébastien Buemi. In the main series Petrov remained with the Campos team. He finished seventh in final standings, taking a win at the Valencia Street Circuit.{{cite news|url=http://www.crash.net/gp2/news/68601/1/petrov_picks_up_pantanos_pieces_in_valencia.html|title=Petrov picks up Pantano's pieces in Valencia|date=23 August 2008|work=crash.net|access-date=31 January 2010}} He finished fifth, with a win in the Sepang sprint race,{{cite news|url=http://gpupdate.net/en/gp2-news/209760/petrov-takes-malaysia-sprint-race/|title=Petrov takes Malaysia sprint race|date=5 April 2009|work=gp2.gpupdate.net|publisher=GPUpdate|access-date=31 January 2010}} in the 2008–09 GP2 Asia Series season for Campos.

He stayed with the team for 2009, now rebranded as Barwa Addax, and finished as runner-up to the dominant Nico Hülkenberg in the championship, winning twice at Istanbul Park{{cite news|url=http://gpupdate.net/en/gp2-news/213784/petrov-claims-saturday-thriller/|title=Petrov claims Saturday thriller|date=6 June 2009|work=gp2.gpupdate.net|publisher=GPUpdate|access-date=31 January 2010}} and Valencia Street Circuit.{{cite news|url=http://gpupdate.net/en/gp2-news/218016/petrov-wins-valencia-feature-race/|title=Petrov wins Valencia feature race|date=22 August 2009|work=gp2.gpupdate.net|publisher=GPUpdate|access-date=31 January 2010}}

File:Vitaly Petrov 2010 Bahrain.jpg at the 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix, it was the first time a Russian had driven in the Formula One World Championship.]]

Petrov was linked to joining Sauber, Renault F1 and Campos for the {{f1|2010}} season. He was announced as a Renault driver on 31 January and thus became the first Russian driver in the Formula One World Championship.{{cite news|last=Anin|first=Roman|author-link=Roman Anin|date=20 April 2011|title=Заводы, цистерны, офшоры, соседи: Что общего у пиратов, захвативших Arctic Sea, со знакомыми премьер-министра? И кто из топ-менеджеров российских госкомпаний работал на людей, за которыми следила полиция Монако?|language=ru|trans-title=Factories, tanks, offshore, neighbors: What do the pirates who captured the Arctic Sea have in common with the prime minister's acquaintances? And who of the top managers of Russian state-owned companies worked for the people who were being followed by the Monaco police?|work=Novaya Gazeta|url=https://novayagazeta.ru/articles/2011/04/19/5931-zavody-tsisterny-ofshory-sosedi|url-status=live|access-date=23 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427025016/http://www.novayagazeta.ru/data/2011/042/16.html|archive-date=27 April 2011}} He was signed for a one-year deal, with an option for a further two. He was very close to signing for Campos but he felt Renault was the best option for him. He also mentioned that he had no major sponsors from Russia backing him just his dad and some of his friends. Some of his dad's friends included Vladimir Putin who drove the Renault F1 car and on 4 January 2011 revealed that Sergei Chemezov of Rostec and Leonid Mikhelson of Novatek would provide financial assistance to the Renault F1 team and its driver Petrov.{{cite news |url=https://www.sport-interfax.ru/172131 |title=Гонщику Петрову будут продолжать оказывать финподдержку |trans-title=The racer Petrov will continue to receive financial support |language=ru |agency=Interfax |date=4 January 2011 |access-date=23 March 2021}} Previously, on 1 March 2010, Carlos Ghosn met with Putin to announce that Renault F1 would have Petrov as its driver after Petrov's manager, {{Interlanguage link|Оксана Косаченко|lt=Oksana Kosachenko|ru}}, had sent a letter to Putin asking Putin for assistance.{{cite web |last=Сергиенко |first=Евгения (Sergienko, Evgeniya) |url=http://archive.premier.gov.ru/premier/press/ru/4763/print/ |title=СЕГОДНЯ ПРЕМЬЕР-МИНИСТР РОССИИ ВЛАДИМИР ПУТИН ВСТРЕТИТСЯ С ПРЕЗИДЕНТОМ RENAULT КАРЛОСОМ ГОНОМ. И ХОТЯ ОСНОВНАЯ ТЕМА ВСТРЕЧИ - АВТОВАЗ, ИСТОЧНИКИ РБК DAILY ПОЛАГАЮТ, ЧТО СТОРОНЫ ПОДНИМУТ ВОПРОС И О ПЕРВОМ РОССИЙСКОМ ГОНЩИКЕ «ФОРМУЛЫ-1» ВИТАЛИИ ПЕТРОВЕ, ВЫСТУПАЮЩЕМ ЗА КОМАНДУ RENAULT В СЕЗОНЕ-2010 БЕЗ КАКОЙ БЫ ТО НИ БЫЛО СПОНСОРСКОЙ ПОДДЕРЖКИ. МЕНЕДЖЕРЫ СПОРТСМЕНА ГОВОРЯТ, ЧТО ОБОШЛИ ПОЧТИ 500 РОССИЙСКИХ КОМПАНИЙ, НО НЕ ВСТРЕТИЛИ ПОНИМАНИЯ, ПОКА НЕ ОБРАТИЛИСЬ ЗА ПОДДЕРЖКОЙ К ПРЕМЬЕРУ. РАСКРЫВАТЬ КАРТЫ И СЕЙЧАС НИКТО НЕ ХОЧЕТ, НО, ПОХОЖЕ, НА БОЛИДАХ RENAULT МОГУТ ПОЯВИТЬСЯ ЛОГОТИПЫ LADA. |trans-title=TODAY RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER VLADIMIR PUTIN WILL MEET WITH RENAULT PRESIDENT CARLOS GHOSN. AND ALTHOUGH THE MAIN TOPIC OF THE MEETING IS AVTOVAZ, RBC DAILY SOURCES BELIEVE THAT THE PARTIES WILL ALSO RAISE THE ISSUE OF THE FIRST RUSSIAN FORMULA 1 DRIVER VITALY PETROV, WHO WILL RACE FOR THE RENAULT TEAM IN THE 2010 SEASON WITHOUT ANY SPONSORSHIP. THE ATHLETE'S MANAGERS SAY THAT THEY HAVE ASKED ALMOST 500 RUSSIAN COMPANIES, BUT DID NOT GAIN A SPONSOR UNTIL THEY TURNED TO THE PRIME MINISTER FOR SUPPORT. AND NOW NO ONE WANTS TO REVEAL THE CARDS, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE LADA LOGOS MAY APPEAR ON RENAULT CARS. |language=ru |work=WEBSITE OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION VLADIMIR PUTIN |date=1 March 2010 |access-date=24 March 2021}}{{cite news |url=https://www.vesti.ru/article/2012934 |title=Наш гонщик в "Формуле-1": Виталий Петров участвовал в презентации Renault Sandero |trans-title=Our driver in Formula 1: Vitaly Petrov participated in the presentation of Renault Sandero |language=ru |work=Вести.ру (Vesti.ru) |date=2 March 2010 |access-date=24 March 2021}}{{cite news |last=Губский |first=Александр (Gubsky, Alexander) |url=http://friday.vedomosti.ru/article.shtml?2010/07/09/15993 |title=Национальный проект: Первый русский гонщик в "Формуле-1" Виталий Петров на следующей неделе покажет Москве болид Renault. Но мечтает о большем – российском Гран-при "Ф-1" |trans-title=National project: The first Russian driver in Formula 1, Vitaly Petrov, will show Moscow a Renault car next week. But he dreams of more - the Russian Grand Prix "F-1" |language=ru |work=Vedomosti |date=9 June 2010 |access-date=23 March 2021 |archive-date=22 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622004112/http://friday.vedomosti.ru/article.shtml?2010/07/09/15993}}{{cite news |last=Темкин |first=Анатолий (Temkin, Anatoly) |url=https://www.vedomosti.ru/business/articles/2010/09/23/novyj_russkij_v_f1 |title=На машинах "Формулы-1" появится логотип Выборгского судостроительного завода: Выборгский судостроительный завод, в числе акционеров которого отец первого российского гонщика "Формулы-1", стал вторым после "АвтоВАЗа" российским партнером команды Renault F1 |trans-title=Vyborg Shipyard logo will appear on Formula 1 cars: Vyborg Shipyard, whose shareholders include the father of the first Russian Formula 1 driver, became the second Russian partner of the Renault F1 team after AvtoVAZ |language=ru |work=Vedomosti |date=23 September 2010 |access-date=24 March 2021}} Alexander Petrov, Vitaly's father, admitted that his best friend "Antiquary" or Ilya Traber, who is the leader of the Vyborg Russian Mafia and is a close friend of Putin, is a major sponsor of the Renault F1 team and its driver Vitaly Petrov, too.{{cite news|last1=Badanin|first1=Roman|author-link=Roman Badanin|last2=Kovalkov|first2=Nikolay|last3=Zholobova|first3=Maria|last4=Zhuk|first4=Daria|date=24 August 2017|title=Авторитет из 90-х, с которым знаком Путин: тайная бизнес-империя Ильи Трабера, и как с ней связаны друзья президента. (Сериал "Питерские", первый эпизод)|language=ru|trans-title=An authority from the 90s that Putin is familiar with: the secret business empire of Ilya Traber, and how the president's friends are connected with it. (The series "Petersburg", the first episode)|work=Dozhd|url=https://tvrain.ru/teleshow/piterskie/piterskie_otets_i_syn-442938/|access-date=23 March 2021}}{{cite news |last=Пекарев |first=Андрей (Pekarev, Andrey) |url=http://www.compromat.ru/page_28340.htm |title=Заветы Ильича. Часть 1: Блестящая бизнес-карьера будущего портового магната Ильи Трабера началась с розлива пива и продолжилась на ниве торговли старинными безделушками |trans-title=Ilyich's precepts. Part 1: The brilliant business career of the future port tycoon Ilya Traber began with the bottling of beer and continued in the field of trade in antique trinkets. |language=ru |work="Наша Версия на Неве" |location=Saint Petersburg |date=30 September 2009 |access-date=23 March 2021}}{{cite news |last=Алексеев |first=Константин (Alekseev, Konstantin) |url=http://www.compromat.ru/page_28340.htm |title=Заветы Ильича. Часть 2: Что связывает соратников питерского антиквара Ильи Трабера с южнокорейской корпорацией "Самсунг" и захватившими сухогруз "Арктик Си" пиратами? |trans-title=Ilyich's precepts. Part 2: What connects the associates of the St. Petersburg antiquarian Ilya Traber with the South Korean corporation Samsung and the pirates who seized the Arctic Sea dry cargo ship? |language=ru |work="Наша Версия на Неве" |location=Saint Petersburg |date=30 September 2009 |access-date=23 March 2021}} Petrov stated that his goal is to start scoring points by mid-season. His teammate for his debut season with the new Renault R30 car was Robert Kubica.{{cite news|url=http://www.f1sa.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21165:f1--renault-formula-1-team-tells-driver-vitaly-petrov-to-lose-weight&catid=1:f1&Itemid=157|date=8 April 2010|access-date=28 March 2011|title=Renault Formula 1 team tells driver Vitaly Petrov to lose weight|work=F1SA|publisher=FOSA cc|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100503015956/http://www.f1sa.com/index.php?option=com_content|archive-date=3 May 2010}} After qualifying seventeenth, Petrov's first race ended prematurely when the team found his right-front suspension strut to be damaged, which the Russian suspected to have been caused by hitting a kerb too hard. He had been chasing Rubens Barrichello for tenth place and a World Championship point at the time of the incident.

File:Vitaly Petrov (2010 Montreal GP).jpg at the 2010 Canadian Grand Prix.]]

He finished his first race at the {{F1 GP|2010|Chinese}}, and in doing so, scored his first F1 points, as he finished in seventh position. This race was also noted for his overtakes of Michael Schumacher and Mark Webber under heavy rain.{{cite news|title=Chinese Grand Prix – selected team & driver quotes|publisher=Formula One Administration|work=formula1.com|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/4/10681.html|date=18 April 2010|access-date=19 April 2010|quote=I'm happy to finish my first race in Formula 1 and to score my first points.}} After qualifying for the {{F1 GP|2010|Turkish}} he started ninth. But after a collision with Fernando Alonso in the closing laps, he suffered a puncture and was forced to make a pitstop. On returning to the track he set the fastest lap of the race, finishing fifteenth.

In Hungary, Petrov qualified seventh, ahead of much respected teammate Robert Kubica, with Petrov finishing the race in 5th place. In Belgium, Petrov started in 23rd place, after failing to set a time in qualifying because of a first-session crash. He made up 14 places in changeable conditions to finish 9th, resulting in his third consecutive points finish. Petrov retired on the first lap of the {{F1 GP|2010|Japanese}} after colliding with Nico Hülkenberg, and crashed out of seventh place in the {{F1 GP|2010|Korean}}. He qualified tenth for the final round of the season in Abu Dhabi, ahead of Kubica who qualified eleventh. In the race, Petrov pitted under an early safety car period which moved him up the order when drivers ahead of him pitted. Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber both came out behind him and Petrov remained ahead of them until the end of the race, which stopped the title contenders' progress and enabled Sebastian Vettel to win the title.{{cite news|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88270|title=Petrov wouldn't have risked crash|first=Steven|last=English|work=autosport.com|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=14 November 2010|access-date=14 November 2010}}

File:Catalunya test 2011 - 31.jpg

After the {{F1|2010}} season ended Renault team boss Éric Boullier said that there was a good chance of Petrov remaining with the team in {{F1|2011}}.{{cite news|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88359|title=Petrov on verge of new Renault deal|first=Jonathan|last=Noble|work=autosport.com|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=17 November 2010|access-date=17 November 2010}} On 22 December 2010, he was retained by the team on a two-year deal.{{cite news|title=Petrov confirmed at Renault until 2012|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/12/11615.html|work=formula1.com|publisher=Formula One Administration|date=22 December 2010|access-date=22 December 2010}} During the close season, the team were rebranded 'Lotus Renault GP' following a sponsorship deal with Lotus Cars. Teammate Robert Kubica suffered serious injuries in a rallying accident, with Petrov being joined by Nick Heidfeld for the start of the season.

File:Vitaly Petrov Canada 2011.jpg.]]

In the first race of the season in Australia, Petrov qualified sixth – a career-best – and secured his only Formula One podium, finishing in third place behind race-winner Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/9437744.stm|title=Vitaly Petrov boosted by Renault podium at Aussie GP|first=Sarah|last=Holt|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=27 March 2011|access-date=28 March 2011}} In Malaysia, Petrov again ran in the points until he ran wide at a corner and left the circuit; attempting to rejoin, he hit a bump caused by a drainage gully which launched his car into the air and broke the steering column on landing. During qualifying for the {{F1 GP|2011|Chinese}}, Petrov's car suffered a technical problem after he had posted the fourth fastest time of Q2. As a result, he could not compete in Q3, leaving him to start tenth on the grid. He drove a consistent race and made good strategy calls and made his way to ninth after passing several cars after his last stop of a two stop strategy on Lap 37.{{cite news|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/90758|title=Petrov laments qualifying issue|first=Simon|last=Strang|work=Autosport|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=16 April 2011|access-date=16 April 2011}} An eighth place in Turkey added to his points tally before an eleventh-place finish in Spain.

In Monaco, Petrov was taken to hospital after a crash, from sixth place, involving Adrian Sutil, Lewis Hamilton and Jaime Alguersuari. The crash halted the race for 20 minutes before it eventually restarted. He was released from hospital the same day,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/formula_one/13590705.stm|title=Vitaly Petrov released from hospital after Monaco crash|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=29 May 2011|access-date=21 June 2011}} and returned to the cockpit with a fifth-place finish in Canada. Petrov had a difficult weekend in Valencia, where he finished 15th, having started from 11th on the grid. He finished 12th at the {{F1 GP|2011|British}}, as new restrictions on blown diffusers were introduced. In Germany, Petrov returned to Q3 for the first time since Canada before finishing ninth. A non-points finish in Hungary was followed by a ninth at the {{F1 GP|2011|Belgian}}. Petrov qualified seventh at Monza, but while battling with Nico Rosberg on the first lap, the HRT of Vitantonio Liuzzi crashed into the side of both of them, eliminating all three cars. Renault suffered their worst performance of the season in Singapore, where Petrov qualified in 18th and finished 17th, before a ninth-place finish in Japan.

At the {{F1 GP|2011|Korean}}, Petrov qualified eighth but retired after crashing into the back of Michael Schumacher on lap 16, causing a safety car. It became the third contact between the pair in 2011, when Petrov appeared to be too involved in trying to outbrake Alonso on the long straight before Turn 3. He incurred a five-place grid penalty for the incident at the inaugural {{F1 GP|2011|Indian}}, which meant that he had to start the race from sixteenth place. He finished the race eleventh, just in front of teammate Bruno Senna, and just missing out on the points-scoring positions. After finishing 13th in Abu Dhabi, Petrov launched an attack on his team in an interview on Russian television, citing lack of development, strategy mistakes, and criticisms of the drivers by team management.{{cite news|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/18112011/66/petrov-launches-attack-renault.html|date=18 November 2011|access-date=20 November 2011|work=Yahoo! Eurosport|publisher=TF1 Group|title=Petrov launches attack on Renault}} Petrov apologised for the outburst with an email to all Renault staff, with Éric Bouiller claiming the matter was closed.{{cite news|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5h71UeAT5NYeI-7nB_9vyg-W7JUpA?docId=N0738201321632125367A|title=Boullier accepts Petrov apology|date=18 November 2011|access-date=20 November 2011|work=Google News|agency=Press Association}}{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Petrov ended the season with a tenth-place finish in Brazil, but with Adrian Sutil finishing sixth in the race, Sutil moved ahead of Petrov for ninth place in the final championship standings.

In December 2011, it was announced that Romain Grosjean would partner Kimi Räikkönen at the team in {{F1|2012}}, leaving Petrov without a drive.{{cite news|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96698|title=Romain Grosjean joins Kimi Raikkonen at Lotus Renault for 2012|first=Jonathan|last=Noble|work=Autosport|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=9 December 2011|access-date=9 December 2011}}

File:2012 Australian Grand Prix 05.jpg at the 2012 Australian Grand Prix.]]

On 17 February it was announced that Petrov would drive for the Caterham F1 Team in 2012, replacing Italian Jarno Trulli and partnering Heikki Kovalainen.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/17042953|title=Vitaly Petrov replaces Jarno Trulli at Caterham for 2012|first=Andrew|last=Benson|date=17 February 2012|access-date=17 February 2012|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC}} Petrov qualified 20th for the {{F1 GP|2012|Australian}}, and was running 15th when a steering problem forced him to retire on lap 36.{{cite news|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2012/3/13124.html|title=Button proves untouchable in Melbourne|work=Formula1.com|publisher=Formula One Administration|date=18 March 2012|access-date=18 March 2012}} In Malaysia, Petrov drove a clean race to finish 16th, ahead of Kovalainen. It became apparent that the Caterham lacked the pace of midfield cars, but was evidently faster than Marussia and HRT.{{cite web|title=Alonso holds off stellar Perez for Sepang victory|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2012/3/13166.html|work=Formula1.com|publisher=F1 Group|access-date=25 March 2012}}

Petrov had another clean race at the {{F1 GP|2012|Chinese}} where he qualified in 20th, and made his way up through the race to finish 18th, again ahead of Kovalainen who lost two laps in the pits.{{cite web|title=Rosberg an F1 winner after Shanghai thriller|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2012/4/13231.html|work=Formula1.com|publisher=F1 Group|access-date=15 April 2012}} At the {{F1 GP|2012|Bahrain}}, Petrov managed to qualify well over a second faster than the closest Marussia, cementing the Caterham's position as the fastest of the new teams for the third year running; he managed to finish the race in 16th place, equalling his best result in Malaysia earlier in the year.{{cite web|title=Vettel holds off Raikkonen for Sakhir win|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2012/4/13273.html|work=Formula1.com|publisher=F1 Group|access-date=22 April 2012}}

File:Vitaly Petrov 2012 Malaysia FP2.jpg.]]

The {{F1 GP|2012|Spanish}} was the first time Petrov had qualified ahead of his teammate by just under two-tenths, however, he finished behind him for the first time in the season.{{cite web|title=magnificent Maldonado puts Williams back on top|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2012/5/13347.html|work=Formula1.com|publisher=F1 Group|access-date=13 May 2012}} The {{F1 GP|2012|Monaco}} was a bad run for Petrov, after qualifying nearly nine-tenths down from Kovalainen, he retired from the race on lap 15 with electrical failure, giving him his second retirement of the season.{{cite web|title=Webber makes it six winners from six races|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2012/5/13399.html|work=Formula1.com|publisher=F1 Group|access-date=27 May 2012}}

File:Vitaly Petrov, United States Grand Prix, Austin 2012.jpg]]

At the {{F1 GP|2012|Canadian}}, Petrov managed to qualify in 19th, ahead of the Toro Rosso of Jean-Éric Vergne, but was unable to keep ahead at the start and went on to finish exactly where he started, albeit, one lap behind the leaders.{{cite web|title=seventh time lucky for Hamilton in Canada|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2012/6/13449.html|work=Formula1.com|publisher=F1 Group|access-date=10 June 2012}} After starting the race on the tenth row of the grid, Petrov ran as high as tenth at the {{F1 GP|2012|European}} – a result that would have earned Caterham their first Formula One point – but was involved in a collision with Daniel Ricciardo and finished thirteenth.{{cite web|title=Alonso triumphs in Valencia thriller|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2012/6/13498.html|work=Formula1.com|publisher=F1 Group|access-date=24 June 2012}}

After initially being outpaced by Kovalainen, once Petrov had adjusted to the car he began to turn the tables on his Finnish teammate. He finished ahead of Kovalainen in four of the last five races of the season.

In the final race of the season in Brazil, Petrov finished a season's best eleventh, making a crucial pass on Marussia's Charles Pic in the closing stages of the Grand Prix. The result meant Caterham moved back ahead of Marussia to claim 10th place in the Constructors' Championship, a position worth millions of pounds more in prize money.

Petrov was not retained by Caterham as the team replaced both him and Kovalainen with Charles Pic and Giedo van der Garde for the 2013 season.

File:2014 DTM HockenheimringII Vitaly Petrov by 2eight 8SC4925.jpg

Petrov signed with Mercedes to drive in the German touring car series DTM. But after a scoreless season and finishing last in the Drivers' Championship, he left the sport after one year.{{cite web|url=http://www.crash.net/dtm/news/213258/1/mercedes-confirms-drivers-petrov-dropped.html|title=DTM – Mercedes confirms drivers, Petrov dropped|work=Crash.net|date=30 January 2015|access-date=6 November 2015}}

In 2007, he began residing in Valencia, Spain where he lived while he was a F1 driver.

Petrov is widely known in Russia as the "Vyborg Rocket".{{cite news| title =Vitaly Petrov Adria race report| publisher =motorsport.com| url =http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=214689&FS=EU3000| date =11 April 2006| access-date =12 August 2007| archive-date =27 September 2007| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20070927190612/http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=214689&FS=EU3000| url-status =dead}} Petrov voiced a character based on himself in the Russian release of the 2011 Pixar film Cars 2.

Petrov's brother Sergei is a music composer graduated from Vienna's Conservatory.{{cite news |last=Фахрутдинов |first=Рафаэль (Fakhrutdinov, Rafael) |url=https://www.gazeta.ru/social/2020/10/24/13331899.shtml |title=Выстрел снайпера: убит бизнесмен Александр Петров. Киллер застрелил депутата Александра Петрова, отца пилота "Формулы-1" |trans-title=Sniper shot: businessman Alexander Petrov killed. The killer shot the deputy Alexander Petrov, the father of the Formula 1 pilot |language=ru |work=Gazeta.Ru |date=24 October 2020 |access-date=24 March 2021 |archive-date=27 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027164735/https://www.gazeta.ru/social/2020/10/24/13331899.shtml}} Petrov's father Aleksandr was an influential businessman and municipal deputy in his home city of Vyborg before he was assassinated in 2020 – his death requiring Petrov to stand down from his role as a temporary steward at the 2020 Portuguese Grand Prix.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-24|title=Vitaly Petrov steps down as F1 steward after father shot dead in Russia|url=http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/oct/24/vitaly-petrov-steps-down-as-f1-steward-after-father-shot-dead-in-russia|access-date=2021-03-25|website=The Guardian|language=en}}

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

{{sup|†}} Did not finish, but was classified as he had completed more than 90% of the race distance.

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

^† Driver did not finish, but was classified as he had completed 75% of the race distance.

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{commons}}

• {{Official website|http://vitalypetrov.com/}}
• {{DriverDB driver|vitaly-petrov}}

{{Renault F1}}

{{Caterham F1}}

{{Formula One drivers from Russia}}

{{Campos Racing}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Petrov, Vitaly}}

Category:1984 births

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