Petrov: Time to take stock

Even though the teams are on their summer break, Vitaly Petrov is hoping Renault use the time to “home in” on where they’ve gone wrong…

Even though the F1 teams are now on their summer break, Vitaly Petrov is hoping Renault use the time to “home in” on where they’ve gone wrong.

Lotus Renault GP’s 2011 campaign got off to a flying start with the team claiming back-to-back podiums in Australia and Malaysia. That, though, was the beginning – and the end of their success.

In the following nine races they barely managed to double the number of points scored through their two podium results and have fallen behind Mercedes GP, both on the track and in the standings.

Just in the last two back-to-back grands prix in Germany and Hungary, Merc brought home 12 points whereas Renault managed just one, dropping them 14 points behind their rivals.

And Petrov says after their disappointing showing in Hungary, they need to use the winter break to establish what needs to be done to get back in front.

“Yes it was,” he said when asked if it was a ‘tough’ Hungarian GP weekend for his team.

“But we have a break now which gives us time to reflect and really home in on what needs to be improved.

“Often when you have back-to-back races, there’s not sufficient time to take a step back at what’s taken place.

“Now, with the August break, we have that opportunity.”