Vitaly Petrov has launched a scathing attack against his own team, Renault, following a massive drop if performance in the latter half of the season.
The Russian driver is contractually obliged to only say good about the team, but he says the time how come to highlight the issues.
In an interview with Russia 2, a Russian television network, Petrov attacked the team over their poor pit-stops, lack of forward development and his future.
“Unfortunately I cannot say anything bad about the team, it says so in my contract, but many things have already been written about in the media,” said the 27-year-old.
“We have lost positions in about 10 races or even more. Even without a fast car we could have gained good points, we could have finished with points if we had had a good strategy.
“But I couldn’t say in interviews that we lost it with the pitstops, and I cannot talk about that now either. But I can’t keep silent any more – it is over. I can’t keep everything inside any more.”
Renault looked to have started the season strongly with podium finishes in both Australia and Malaysia, but since the German GP – the halfway point in the season – the team has scored just six points.
Petrov says the lack of successful developments have are the reason for their poor form and in reality, the team have been forced to use the same specification car since the British GP.
“At the beginning of the year, for the first five or six races, we looked really strong. We could not fight with Ferrari, Red Bull or McLaren, but we were quite close to Ferrari and much faster than Mercedes,” he added.
“It was very easy for us to pass from Q2 to Q3 using one set of tyres. We didn’t even use all the potential or push 100 per cent to get into Q3 – in the first six races it was rather easy.
“But when the windtunnel developments came, the new parts, because of the front exhausts, they didn’t work. We worked on the front wing, the rear wing, the diffusers, the floor – but whatever we changed it was useless.
“For about 10 races we didn’t have anything, so in fact we have had the same car with which we started the season.”
The outburst could threaten his seat with the team as Renault looks to weigh up several drivers as possible replacements for 2012, though Petrov is seen as a safe option due to his financial backing – but even he admitted no amount of money can keep you in F1.
“Everything is clear: I have a contract, but as I have already said before, even world champion Kimi Raikkonen was asked to leave F1 for a certain sum of money. It’s hard to do anything in this world if someone wants you to be removed.”
