Points for Petrov (Renault race review)

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Robert KubicaVitaly Petrov
Qualifying position87
Qualifying time comparison (Q3)1’21.328 (+0.099)1’21.229
Race position5
Average race lap1’37.270 (+9.573)1’27.697
Laps23/7070/70
Pit stops21

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Robert Kubica

At the end of free practice both Renaults had set faster times than both McLarens. But Kubica had a slow lap in Q3 – he felt the car was bottoming – and ended up half a second off the time he set in Q2.

Fifth place had been on the cards, but that went to Lewis Hamilton. Kubica was left in eighth place behind Nico Rosberg and – for the first time this year – his team mate.

Kubica’s race was ruined when his team released him into the path of Adrian Sutil in the pits. He carried on after that, was handed a stop-go penalty and later retired with front suspension damage incurred in the collision.

His no-score allowed Felipe Massa to overtake him in the drivers’ championship.

Compare Robert Kubica’s form against his team mate in 2010

Vitaly Petrov

Petrov seized on his team mate’s qualifying troubles to start a career-best seventh and ahead of Kubica for the first time ever.

It got better at the beginning of the race when he made a strong start and briefly ran fifth. He was passed by Lewis Hamilton on the second lap and admitted he didn’t defend too strongly as he was struggling to get his tyres up to temperature.

Hamilton’s retirement left him on course for fifth place which he took with Nico Hulkenberg’s Williams 3.6 seconds behind:

I feel wonderful because we did everything almost perfect today.

I made a good start and managed to pass Rosberg and Hamilton into the first corner, which was our target. After that, I didn’t try and block Lewis too much because I had a problem with my tyre warm-up. I lost a lot of grip and I was fighting the car. I decided to let him through rather than risk losing more positions.

The points today are very important for us because Mercedes didn’t score any. Also, I have a lot of friends and family here today so I’m pleased I could give them a good result.
Vitaly Petrov

Compare Vitaly Petrov’s form against his team mate in 2010

2010 Hungarian Grand Prix

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    Author information

    Keith Collantine
    Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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    16 comments on “Points for Petrov (Renault race review)”

    1. What a commanding race from Petrov! He’s definitely trying to show his worth at Renault. It’ll be interesting to see if he can capitalize on the momentum he’s created in Hungary at the next Grand Prix.

    2. How do you mean he was behind Kubica for the first time this year? That’s happened in Bahrain, and probably on several occasions where Kubica made his pit stop earlier than Petrov.

      1. Ment Petrov there – it’s written correctly in the next comment.

    3. How do you mean he was behind Petrov for the first time this year? That’s happened in Bahrain, and probably on several occasions where Kubica made his pit stop earlier than Petrov.

      1. Charles Carroll
        2nd August 2010, 4:37

        Perhaps he meant in qualifying?

        1. Oh, didn’t realise that. Sorry

    4. This could be the driver for Petrov that will definitely confirm his seat in the Renault for the rest of the season & if he continues like this in the future races then who knows he even may get a drive for 2010 for the same team.

      1. I think Petrov might have secured it with a good drive into the points at Hockenheim and a great weekend here to get to an important 5th when Kubica is not scoring.

        1. Especially as the team was quite eager for the Russian connection, and money, and they already saw in China that he had good races in him, if he calmed down a bit. I agree he now looks very good for next year.

      2. I dont think his seat was in doubt for the rest of this season, but I would say this has done him big favours for keeping his seat next year.

        1. I made a mistake by writing ‘2010’ instead of 2011.

    5. If Petrov can perform like that in every race, than MGP can say goodbye to their 4th place in the constructors championship. Suddenly Renault is becoming a team, not a one man show.

      1. Exactly. Kubica and Rosberg are very close this year, so it’s up to Petrov to beat Schumacher and secure 4th.

        1. He’ll really have to do phenomenally well the rest of the year, as Schumacher has more than double the points Petrov has, and Rosberg does still lead Kubica as well. Maybe they can do it.

          1. Will be a fascinating battle to watch.

    6. Matt G (lotus fan)
      4th August 2010, 22:07

      I think this has helped Petrov secure his drive for next year as his seat is being seen as the most vunerable of the top teams. Also his qualifing means that ever driver has out qualified their team mates.

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