Vitaly Petrov made F1 history as the first Russian driver to compete in Formula One, debuting at the 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix. Nicknamed the “Vyborg Rocket”, Petrov rose from an unconventional background, skipping karting and beginning his career in rallying.
| Nationality | Russian |
|---|---|
| Born | Vitaly Aleksandrovich Petrov 8 September 1984 Vyborg, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
Born and raised in Vyborg, Russia, Petrov entered motorsport without the traditional karting foundation. Instead, he began rallying before moving to circuit racing. His progression through the junior ranks eventually led to a seat in GP2, where his performances caught the attention of F1 teams.
Petrov was signed by Renault in 2010, making headlines as the first Russian driver to race in Formula One. Despite lacking major national sponsorship at the time, political and business figures—including future President Vladimir Putin—took an interest in his career. Financial support followed, including backing from figures associated with Russian state-owned corporations and even underworld connections, according to media reports.
Renault: 2010–2011
2010: The Rookie Season
Petrov debuted with Renault alongside F1’s first Polish driver, Robert Kubica. While consistency eluded him in his first season, he showed flashes of potential. He scored his first points at the 2010 Chinese Grand Prix and made headlines for overtaking legends like Michael Schumacher and Mark Webber in wet conditions. Later that season, he secured top-ten finishes in Hungary, Belgium, and Abu Dhabi.
His drive in the 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix proved decisive in the title race. Petrov held off a faster Fernando Alonso for much of the race, allowing Sebastian Vettel to clinch his first world title—one of Petrov’s most high-profile moments.
2011: Podium Glory and Growing Frustrations
Retained for 2011, Petrov was joined by Nick Heidfeld after Kubica suffered a serious rally accident. Petrov began the season in dramatic fashion, claiming his first and only Formula One podium with a third-place finish at the 2011 Australian Grand Prix.
However, the rest of the season was turbulent. While he showed solid pace, misfortunes—like a dramatic airborne crash in Malaysia, contact with Michael Schumacher, and a hospital visit after a multi-car crash in Monaco—hampered his progress. A late-season public criticism of his team’s lack of development and strategic errors stirred controversy, although Petrov later apologised.
He ended the season 10th in the 2011 Drivers’ Championship but lost his seat for 2012 as Renault (now Lotus) signed Romain Grosjean to partner Kimi Räikkönen.
Caterham: 2012
Petrov joined Caterham in 2012, replacing veteran Jarno Trulli. Though driving for a backmarker team, Petrov consistently outperformed expectations. In a car not competitive enough for points, he nonetheless impressed by finishing ahead of teammate Heikki Kovalainen in several races, particularly in the latter part of the season.
His best performance came at the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix, the final race of the year. Petrov finished 11th. Petrov was not retained for 2013, ending his Formula One career.
Vitaly Petrov Formula One World Championship career
| F1 Career | 2010–2012 |
|---|---|
| Teams | Renault, Caterham |
| Entries | 58 (57 starts) |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 1 |
| Career points | 64 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 1 |
| First entry | 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix |
Vitaly Petrov Teammates
| 7 drivers | Involvement | First Year | Last Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Kubica | 19 | 2010 | |
| Nick Heidfeld | 11 | 2011 | |
| Bruno Senna | 9 | 2011 | |
| Romain Grosjean | 2 | 2011 | |
| Heikki Kovalainen | 20 | 2012 | |
| Giedo van der Garde | 6 | 2012 | |
| Alexander Rossi | 1 | 2012 |
Vitaly Petrov Complete Formula One Results
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | WDC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Renault F1 Team | Renault R30 | Renault RS27-2010 2.4 V8 | BHR Ret | AUS Ret | MAL Ret | CHN 7 | ESP 11 | MON 13 † | TUR 15 | CAN 17 | EUR 14 | GBR 13 | GER 10 | HUN 5 | BEL 9 | ITA 13 | SIN 11 | JPN Ret | KOR Ret | BRA 16 | ABU 6 | 13th | 27 | |
| 2011 | Lotus Renault GP | Renault R31 | Renault RS27-2011 2.4 V8 | AUS 3 | MAL 17 † | CHN 9 | TUR 8 | ESP 11 | MON Ret | CAN 5 | EUR 15 | GBR 12 | GER 10 | HUN 12 | BEL 9 | ITA Ret | SIN 17 | JPN 9 | KOR Ret | IND 11 | ABU 13 | BRA 10 | 10th | 37 | |
| 2012 | Caterham F1 Team | Caterham CT01 | Renault RS27-2012 2.4 V8 | AUS Ret | MAL 16 | CHN 18 | BHR 16 | ESP 17 | MON Ret | CAN 19 | EUR 13 | GBR DNS | GER 16 | HUN 19 | BEL 14 | ITA 15 | SIN 19 | JPN 17 | KOR 16 | IND 17 | ABU 16 | USA 17 | BRA 11 | 19th | 0 |
