Petrov makes history for F1 and Russia

LONDON (AFP) Vitaly Petrov made motor racing history in Shanghai when he finished seventh in the Chinese Grand Prix - the first Russian to score points in Formula One. The young Russians success not only silenced the critics who had accused him of being too fat for the job - he was 10 kilos heavier than his Renault team-mate Pole Robert Kubica - but also banished rumours that he was poised to be dumped for financial reasons. Indeed, the success of Petrov, 25, who was born in Vyborg, but lives in Valencia in Spain, increased the likelihood that a Russian Grand Prix will soon be added to the calendar - and that Russian money will pour into the sport. Renault team boss Eric Boullier was certainly impressed with 'the Viyborg Rocket, as he is known in Russia. Vitaly put in a great drive, he said. At the beginning of the race, the conditions were very tricky. Some parts of the track were wet, some werent, and its never easy for a rookie when the conditions are changing. He proved himself. The risky conditions were no problem for Petrov. I look forward to wet races and street circuits because I started my career in Russia competing in rally sprints and ice racing, so I feel comfortable in slippery conditions... All of which suggested that Renault, now controlled by Luxemburg-based investment house Genii Capital, following the French car-makers decision to sell a majority holding in the wake of the 2009 race-fixing scandal, have found a valuable future asset - and not only because Petrov is paying 15 million euros for the seat. Yet, mystery continues to surround Petrovs contractual arrangements with Renault and the source of his funds - after reports in Russia suggested his father Alexander had struggled to raise a loan of 7.5 million Euros for a first installment on the seat fee. Petrov appears to be hugely well-funded even though his management found it difficult, according to his father, to find new sponsors. Petrov has said his funding is from his fathers money and backing from family friends, but nobody at Renault has added any detail to this explanation - and little is known about Petrovs family background or the source of his fathers personal wealth. The people in Russia, they must wake up to what has happened here because we are in F1 without any sponsorship and any help, Petrov was quoted saying earlier this season. My father has given me the money to be here. Its just him, my manager and my fathers friends. No-one else. His manager Oksana Kossatschenko confirmed that Petrov is paying 15m euros for his seat and stressed he is far more than just a 'pay driver opening the door to Formula One for Russia. In an interview with the Austrian financial newspaper WirtschaftsBlatt, she said: Vitaly has not come into Formula One because of the money, but because of the strategic interests of various companies, and because of his driving talent. He was in the right place in the right moment when Renault was expanding its partnership, and Russian production, with (car-maker) Avtovaz. She added: In Vitalys career, there have been tempting offers that we have turned down when we realised that the teams didnt want the driver only his money. Many close observers believe this may refer to a bid from Finland to offer him Finnish citizenship, and the funds to cover his expenses, if he agreed to race under their flag. His family home in Vyborg is close to the border with Finland and Petrov reportedly goes home by flying to Helskinki and then driving east for three hours. Kossatschenko added: Formula one is a business. The team has a budget of just over 200 million Euros, but the Renault group owns only 25 per cent and so cannot cover the budget. They want to expand into Russia and Petrov is the key for them. And, for Formula One, Russia is a white sheet of paper.(sic).