{"id":33576,"date":"2020-12-06T07:11:13","date_gmt":"2020-12-06T07:11:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.motorsportmagazine.com\/database\/drivers\/vitaly-petrov\/"},"modified":"2023-11-07T14:29:09","modified_gmt":"2023-11-07T14:29:09","slug":"vitaly-petrov","status":"publish","type":"driver","link":"https:\/\/www.motorsportmagazine.com\/database\/drivers\/vitaly-petrov\/","title":{"rendered":"Vitaly Petrov"},"content":{"rendered":"    \n<section class=\"hero hero--small-image\">\n    \n            \n<section class=\"c-site-breadcrumbs site-breadcrumbs proxima \">\n    <div class=\"container\">\n        <nav class=\"breadcrumbs\"><span><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.motorsportmagazine.com\/database\/\">Home<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/nav>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n    \n    <div class=\"hero__content\">\n        <div class=\"container\">\n                            <div class=\"circular-image\">\n                                            <picture>\n            <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"\" >\n            <img decoding=\"async\" height=\"200\" width=\"200\" alt=\"_q0c9994\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.motorsportmagazine.com\/database\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/01\/q0c9994-200x200.jpg.webp\" srcset=\"\"  loading=\"lazy\"  \/>\n        <\/picture>\n                                    <\/div>\n                        <h1 class=\"hero__title sanomat\"><\/h1>\n                                <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<section class=\"anchor-menu container-no-breakpoints proxima\">\n    <ul>\n                    <li><a href=\"#biography\" data-behaviour=\"scroll-to\">Biography<\/a><\/li>\n                    <li><a href=\"#championship-seasons\" data-behaviour=\"scroll-to\">Championship Seasons<\/a><\/li>\n                    <li><a href=\"#non-championship-races\" data-behaviour=\"scroll-to\">Non-Championship Races<\/a><\/li>\n                    <li><a href=\"#teams\" data-behaviour=\"scroll-to\">Teams<\/a><\/li>\n            <\/ul>\n<\/section>\n\n<div class=\"container\" id=\"biography\">\n            <div class=\"post__item\">\n                <div class=\"js-react\" data-behaviour=\"driver-data-box\" data-driver-id=\"33576\"><\/div>\n                <\/div>\n        <aside class=\"sidebar\" data-target=\"ad-container\">\n            <aside class=\"broadcast-space \">\n            <div class=\"broadcast-space__element\" id=\"div-gpt-ad-1563288058060-3\" data-behaviour=\"ad-target\"><\/div>\n    <\/aside>\n        <\/aside>\n    <\/div>\n\n<div class=\"container\" id=\"full-biography\">\n    \n        \n        <section class=\"c-expanding-content expanding-content expanding-content--expandable content-section toggle\">\n            <p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Destined to become the first\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Russia<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">n to race in the Formula 1 W<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">orld\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">C<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">hampionship, Vitaly Petrov\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">played a crucial role in deciding the title in 2010.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Education and early racing career<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A graduate in meteorology from Moscow University,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">won the Russian Lada Cup in 2002 and landed further national success by winning\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">both Formula 1600 and Lada Revolution titles in 2005.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">H<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">is first overseas experience was in Formula Renault during 2003 and 2004 although those seasons with the\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Euronova<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0Junior team were largely unsuccessful. However, buoyed by his double success back home in 2005, Petrov\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">rejoined<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Euronova<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0for the following season and finished third in the 2006 Italian 3000 Championship. He also raced in GP2 with Dave Price\u2019s\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Direxiv<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0team from Hockenheim that year although he finished no higher than 10th.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A switch to Campos Grand Prix allowed Petrov to improve steadily throughout 2007. That culminated in Petrov beating team-mate Giorgio\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Pantano<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0to win the feature race at Valencia\u2019s championship finale. The off-season GP2 Asia Series confirmed that improvement with Petrov qualifying on pole position at Sentul, winning at Sepang and third in the final standings.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A consistent 2008 included another Valencia victory (albeit on the new harbour side Formula 1 circuit) and resulted in seventh in the championship. He again won in Malaysia during the 2008\/09 GP2 Asia Series as he developed into a consistent if not pacesetting contender.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Nico\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">H\u00fclkenberg<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0may have been the class of the field in the main 2009 GP2 Series but it was Petrov who ran him closest. The tall Russian remained with the renamed Barwa Addax concern and won two feature races to finish as runner-up.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Formula 1 with Renault and Caterham<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Aided by sponsorship from his homeland, he graduated to F1 with Renault in 2010 for the first of two seasons with the team. There were incidents aplenty including regular contact with Michael Schumacher\u2019s Mercedes-Benz during 2011.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Fifth in the Hungarian GP was the highlight of a tough rookie campaign although his performance in Abu Dhabi \u2013 when he held off Fernando Alonso for sixth \u2013 confirmed Sebastian Vettel\u2019s first world title. He then out-performed his more experienced team-mate Nick\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Heidfeld<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0at the start of 2011 and finished in a career-best third position in the Australian GP.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Tenth in the world championship, he was dropped at the end of 2011 following his public criticism of the team. He moved to Caterham instead and his 11th place in the 2012 Brazilian GP proved crucial as the team beat Marussia to 10th in the world championship.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Career after Formula 1<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Having spent a year away from the sport, Petrov made an unsuccessful return with a works Mercedes-Benz in the German DTM touring car series. He qualified at the back of the field\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">throughout that 2014 campaign\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">and finished no higher than 11th at\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Zandvoort<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Again on the side-lines for a season, Petrov returned in the 2016 World Endurance Championship when sharing SMP Racing\u2019s LMP2\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">BRE BR1-Nissan<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0with countrymen\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">K<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">irill<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Ladygin<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">V<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">iktor<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Shaitar<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. Seventh overall and third in class at Le Mans was their best showing of the season.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">He switched to the rival Manor Racing concern for 2017 when sh<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ar<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ing a ORECA 07-Gibson with Roberto Gonz\u00e1lez and Simon\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Trummer<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0It was a lowkey campaign with fifth in LMP2 at the final two races of the season their best class results.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">LMP1 for the 2018\/19 WEC season<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Petrov joined SMP Racing\u2019s LMP1 line-up for the 2018\/<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">19 WEC \u201csuper season\u201d with\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Dallara<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0commissioned to build\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">BR Engineering\u2019s\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">new\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">AER-powered\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">BR1<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0chassis<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. Sharing with compatriot\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">M<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ikhail<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0Aleshin<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0throughout, the<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0Russians<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0were joined by Jenson Button from the 2018 Le Mans 24 Hours. They were fourth at Fuji\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">and third at Shanghai\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">before\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Button left at the end of 2018. The former World Champion was replaced by Brendon Hartley for the 2019 Sebring 1000 miles which they finished in another third-place. Another F1 refugee was their co-driver at Spa-<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Francorchamps<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0and for the Le Mans 24 Hours \u2013 Petrov, Aleshin and Stoffel\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Vandoorne<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0third on both occasions. That consistency was rewarded with Petrov and Aleshin fourth in the final 2018\/19 LMP1 standings.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n                            <div class=\"expanding-content__buttons\">\n                                            <a href=\"#\" class=\"button button--outline button--chevron-down expanding-content__more\" data-behaviour=\"toggle\">Read full bio<\/a>\n                        <a href=\"#\" class=\"button button--outline button--chevron-up expanding-content__less\" data-behaviour=\"toggle\">Read Less<\/a>\n                                    <\/div>\n                    <\/section>\n\n                                \n   <\/div>\n\n<section class=\"content-section content-section--no-padding-bottom database-table-collapsible toggle open\" id=\"championship-seasons\">\n    <div class=\"container\">\n        <div class=\"js-react\" 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id=\"teams\">\n    <div class=\"container\">\n        \n<header class=\"content-header content-header--alt\">\n\n    <h2 class=\"content-header__small-title sanomat u-bold \">\n                Teams\n    <\/h2>\n\n    <div class=\"content-header__dropdown database-table-collapsible__toggles proxima\">\n        <a href=\"#\" class=\"database-table-collapsible__more\" data-behaviour=\"toggle\">Show<\/a>\n        <a href=\"#\" class=\"database-table-collapsible__less\" data-behaviour=\"toggle\">Hide<\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<\/header><div class=\"js-react\" data-behaviour=\"driver-teams-table\" data-driver-id=\"\"><\/div>            <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n                            <section class=\"c-broadcast-space content-section block_5fc172d85c387_leaderboardtop div-gpt-ad-1563288058060-1\" data-target=\"ad-container\">\n            <div class=\"container container--full-mobile\">\n                <aside class=\"broadcast-space \">\n            <div class=\"broadcast-space__element\" 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class=\"article-item__link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.motorsportmagazine.com\/articles\/single-seaters\/f1\/mph-still-sandbagging-the-crafty-reason-mercedes-and-ferrari-may-still-be-hiding-true-f1-pace\/\">\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"article-item__image article-item__image--cropped\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<picture>\n            <source type=\"image\/jpeg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.motorsportmagazine.com\/database\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/George-Russell-and-Lewis-Hamilton-on-track-in-the-2026-F1-Chinese-Grand-Prix-450x253.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" height=\"253\" width=\"450\" alt=\"MPH: Still sandbagging? The crafty reason Mercedes and Ferrari may be hiding true F1 pace\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.motorsportmagazine.com\/database\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/George-Russell-and-Lewis-Hamilton-on-track-in-the-2026-F1-Chinese-Grand-Prix-450x253.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.motorsportmagazine.com\/database\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/George-Russell-and-Lewis-Hamilton-on-track-in-the-2026-F1-Chinese-Grand-Prix-450x253.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw\" loading=\"lazy\"  \/>\n        <\/picture>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"article-item__content\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"article-item__row proxima\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"article-item__tag tag tag--group\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>F1<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"article-item__title article-item__title--cropped sanomat\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMPH: Still sandbagging? The crafty reason Mercedes and Ferrari may be hiding true F1 pace\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"article-item__excerpt\" data-cf-ignore>\n\t\t\t\t<p>F1&#8217;s new mechanism to help struggling engine manufacturers catch up with the leaders could be more powerful than first thought, writes <strong>Mark Hughes<\/strong>. Are Mercedes and Ferrari masking their true performance for long-term advantage?<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"article-item__meta proxima\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"article-item__date\" datetime=\"2026-05-13\">13th May 2026<\/time>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"article-item__author\">By\n\t\t\t\t\t\tMark Hughes<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n<\/article>                                                                                            \n\t\n\n<article class=\"article-item \">\n\n\t\n\t\t<a class=\"article-item__link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.motorsportmagazine.com\/articles\/sports-cars\/verstappens-green-hell-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-nurburgring-24-hours\/\">\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"article-item__image article-item__image--cropped\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<picture>\n            <source type=\"image\/jpeg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.motorsportmagazine.com\/database\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SI202604190234-450x253.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" height=\"253\" width=\"450\" alt=\"Verstappen&#8217;s Green Hell: Everything you need to know about the N\u00fcrburgring 24 Hours\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.motorsportmagazine.com\/database\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SI202604190234-450x253.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.motorsportmagazine.com\/database\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SI202604190234-450x253.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw\" loading=\"lazy\"  \/>\n        <\/picture>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"article-item__content\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"article-item__row proxima\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"article-item__tag tag tag--group\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Sports Car News<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"article-item__title article-item__title--cropped sanomat\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVerstappen&#8217;s Green Hell: Everything you need to know about the N\u00fcrburgring 24 Hours\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"article-item__excerpt\" data-cf-ignore>\n\t\t\t\t<p>Verstappen&#8217;s appearance at this weekend&#8217;s N\u00fcrburgring 24 Hours has produced a first in the event&#8217;s 54-year history: a complete sellout. Here is everything you need to know about the race<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"article-item__meta proxima\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"article-item__date\" datetime=\"2026-05-13\">13th May 2026<\/time>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"article-item__author\">By\n\t\t\t\t\t\tPablo Elizalde<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n<\/article>                                                                                            \n\t\n\n<article class=\"article-item \">\n\n\t\n\t\t<a class=\"article-item__link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.motorsportmagazine.com\/articles\/motorcycles\/motogp\/i-let-this-extra-power-lift-me-up-how-french-motogp-riders-handle-fanatical-home-support\/\">\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"article-item__image article-item__image--cropped\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<picture>\n            <source type=\"image\/jpeg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.motorsportmagazine.com\/database\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/YFRm_AND05790-450x253.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" height=\"253\" width=\"450\" alt=\"&#8216;I let this extra power lift me up!&#8217; &#8211; how French MotoGP riders handle fanatical home support\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.motorsportmagazine.com\/database\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/YFRm_AND05790-450x253.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.motorsportmagazine.com\/database\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/YFRm_AND05790-450x253.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw\" loading=\"lazy\"  \/>\n        <\/picture>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"article-item__content\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"article-item__row proxima\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"article-item__tag tag tag--group\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>MotoGP<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"article-item__title article-item__title--cropped sanomat\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t&#8216;I let this extra power lift me up!&#8217; &#8211; how French MotoGP riders handle fanatical home support\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"article-item__excerpt\" data-cf-ignore>\n\t\t\t\t<p>The French Grand Prix is one of MotoGP&#8217;s greatest spectacle, but it&#8217;s also the most demanding weekend for the riders who call France home<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"article-item__meta proxima\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"article-item__date\" datetime=\"2026-05-12\">12th May 2026<\/time>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"article-item__author\">By\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAdam Wheeler<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n<\/article>                                                         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<\/div>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"author":849,"featured_media":52457,"menu_order":0,"template":"single-database.php","tags":[49593],"series":[82,91,24,134,135,164,191,244],"country":[836],"gender":[28],"class_list":["post-33576","driver","type-driver","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-vitaly-petrov","series-dtm","series-euro-3000-italian-f3000","series-f1","series-gp2-f2","series-gp2-asia","series-lms","series-non-championship-sportscars","series-world-sportscars","country-russia","gender-male"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Vitaly Petrov \u2022 Career &amp; Character Info | Motorsport Database<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Find out about DTM driver, Vitaly Petrov, their career, history and character information incl. races, teams and much more.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, 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