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Petrov unfazed over future

ESPNF1 Staff
July 29, 2010 « Button takes blame for Schumacher form | »
Vitaly Petrov arives at the Hungaroring on Thursday © Sutton Images
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Vitaly Petrov says he does his best to ignore speculation concerning his future in the Renault Formula One team.

The Russian F1 rookie has managed just seven points compared to team-mate Robert Kubica's 89 this season and several drivers, including Timo Glock and Kimi Raikkonen have been linked to the second Renault seat alongside the Pole in 2011.

"For me it doesn't matter what people say. I always try to do the best, try to go as quick as I can," Petrov told reporters on Thursday. "Of course it's positive when the team is speaking about good things, not bad. I try to push hard anyway. If you see, by the end or the middle of the race, Robert and I always have the same lap times.

"It's just that from Friday to Sunday I'm learning and in the middle of the race and the end of the race my laps are always the same because I learned a lot."

Petrov, who was runner-up in last year's GP2 championship, added that he could go on to have a successful Formula One career but he needs more time to learn his new trade.

"I know what I can do. I'm just asking them to give me time. Time for me is important because when I was in GP2 I needed three years to be quick because I didn't do formula cars before.

"I needed to understand how to work with the teams, with the engineers, with the set-up. I would say it was my school. Formula One is also my school, but with a higher lever, so I just need more time."

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