The “electric shock” of losing his Formula One race seat could revive Russian driver Vitaly Petrov’s career after he became complacent, Lotus team owner Gerard Lopez has said.
Petrov, Russia's first F1 driver, was dropped by Lotus at the end of last season, along with his teammate Bruno Senna, in favor of 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen and young French driver Romain Grosjean.
“We had the feeling with him that he was thinking: ‘If I bring my sponsorship money to the team, then I’m there for the next five years,’” Lopez told German magazine Auto Motor und Sport on Thursday.
“But that’s not how Formula One works. You have to earn everything. That’s why Vitaly needed an electric shock. Either he’ll sit out a year or try with another team. That’ll help him.”
Lopez said that he had dropped Senna after worrying about his will to win, claiming that the Brazilian was too easily satisfied with bad results.
Senna will race for Williams in 2012, mirroring his uncle Ayrton Senna, who died racing for the team in 1994.
Petrov remains without a drive for 2012, with all the race seats officially filled, although speculation persists that he may yet attempt to use his sponsorship funds to oust an established name before the season starts in Melbourne on March 18.
His manager Oksana Kosachenko told RIA Novosti earlier this month that Petrov’s search had been held up by an indecisive financial backer.
Petrov was tenth in the 2011 championship. He came third in the 2011 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, his only podium finish to date.
