Petrov Asked to Score Points by Mid-Season

Vitaly Petrov will have until mid-season to get acquainted with the world of Formula One, after which he will be expected to bring home some points for the Genii Capital-controlled Renault F1. And that's not a rumor that appeared in the media by mistake, but an information revealed by the very Russian driver.

Securing a deal with the French manufacturer in exchange of a reported EUR15 million in sponsorship (the first payment is still expected to make the Renault accounts prior to the start of the season), Petrov revealed that he is expected to perform point scoring-like from mid-season onwards. Nevertheless, he insisted he plans to score a Top 10 finish sooner than that.

“The team has told me that as of halfway through the season they will count on me to start scoring points,” admitted Petrov in an interview with Holland's formule1.nl. Additionally, he insisted that he needs to make the best out of his test outings this winter, in order to be able to drive at a competitive level this season.

“I really needed that (track) time. All the others have driven much more than me,” added Petrov, obviously referring to the non-rookie drivers in the 2010 roster.

A few days earlier, when he told the media that he doesn't plan to play second fiddle for Robert Kubica through the 2010 season – or become the number two driver at Renault – it has emerged that the Enstone-based team had required the 25-year old racer to score at least 25 percent of his teammate's points tally this year.