Renault driver Vitaly Petrov has insisted that he can make further gains as a driver in the 2012 Formula One season, providing that the Renault team give him a chance to prove himself alongside their new driver Kimi Raikkonen.
Petrov has a contract for the 2012 season, but the team has not yet confirmed his entry into the championship after signing Raikkonen as their lead driver for next year.Some reports have suggested that the team might replace Petrov with either Bruno Senna or Romain Grosjean, with either driver then stepping aside later in 2012 if Robert Kubica recovers full fitness.
But Petrov has insisted that after two years in the sport, he was ready and willing to make further improvements in his performances for next season.
"I think the team did a big construction, changed a lot of stuff with the team and drivers, and they want to be sure we can do it together," Petrov told the Race of Champions website, in which he will compete this weekend.
"I know this year was a not a good example from my side but sorry, I am still a rookie. I did just two years in F1, so now I learn a lot so I can do the third season much, much better."
He added: "In 2010 I did mistakes that I didn't do in 2011, so I have a big step improvement. In 2010 you could see how difficult it was to fight with Robert Kubica and be a top guy, but in 2011 I improved quite a lot.
"I can do it. I was still doing some mistakes, but F1 it is not the easiest of sports. But can you imagine what I can do in 2012? So I will again have one more step and, together with Kimi, together in one team, it will be good fun."
He added that he enjoyed working with the team, and said that he was looking forward to working with Raikkonen over the next season.
"[Kimi] is experienced and I want very much to be part of this team. I hope the team takes the right decision and we wait a few days more. I hope to stay with the same team because I love very much this team," he rambled.
"I like the people, working with the mechanics and engineers, so it feels like a family. They gave me the opportunity to drive. I don't want to change to another team, so I cross my fingers and wait for the answer."
Petrov ended the 2011 season in 10th in the standings, scoring just five points in the second half of the year as the team's performance tailed off, having notched a podium finish in the second race of the year in Malaysia.
And he insisted that he had learned important lessons in his second season in the sport, saying that he felt he had made a "big step" forwards.
"For me there is nothing to lose," he muttered, "I learn a lot from the 2011 season. I learn very much - and I will never learn so much, even in the future, because we have so many problems.
"I need to adapt my driving for this car to develop new things in the car. I have a big step in my head and a feeling of improvement.
"Together with Kimi, he is a world champion, and he is motivated and funny."
The team met with Petrov's manager this week to discuss his future, though they are yet to confirm their plans for the second seat in 2012.
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