Renault’s chief engineer, Alan Permane, believes Vitaly Petrov has matured massively since his rookie season, even suggesting the margin between him and Robert Kubica would have been minmal had the Pole been competing this year.
The Russian driver had a poor start to his first season in F1 with the Renault team, often finding himself well down on his teammate’s pace – though partnering Kubica, that was to be expected.
However, better results came throughout the season as he consistently finished in the points, as he has done this season. Permane believes his opening podium of the 2011 season proves he’s matured and is now more focused.
“Let’s face it, he was not the fastest driver last year. Robert was ahead of him in almost all the qualifying sessions, but by the end of the year he had a good race in Abu Dhabi,” Permane told Motor.ru.
“Then we arrived in Melbourne [for the start of the 2011 season] and before us was quite another Vitaly. He was very, very focused. Not even the slightest error the entire weekend. Then a podium. He’s matured.”
Had Kubica been driving alongside the 26-year-old, Permane believes the gap wouldn’t have been anywhere near as large as it was in 2010.
“Last year, Robert [Kubica] was far stronger, Vitaly had no chance,” he said. “I think Robert would be faster again this year, but the gap would have been minimal [between the two].”
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