Petrov Blasts Car Fault in Monaco

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Formula One driver Vitaly Petrov blasted a malfunctioning speed-boost system on his car that might have cost him a higher position than 18th in Saturday qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix.

Formula One driver Vitaly Petrov blasted a malfunctioning speed-boost system on his car that might have cost him a higher position than 18th in Saturday qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix.

Despite the issue, it was a second-best qualifying performance of the season from the Russian driver, though Pedro Maldonado's 10-place penalty boosts him one place.

"Very disappointed!" Petrov tweeted. "On my car was not working KERS! Tomorrow another day! Will do all the best!"

KERS is an acronym for kinetic energy-recovery system, which throws energy stored under braking back into acceleration.

His Caterham team said that the system malfunctioned in the final free practice session on Saturday, forcing them to disengage it for qualifying.

"We worked around that and pushed as hard as we could," Petrov said in comments on the team's website.

Technical director Mark Smith had praise for how he coped in the circumstances.

"Despite [the KERS problem] he drove very well and continues to reward the team with maximum effort every time he's in the car."

Petrov has complained before about the KERS device, and predicted it would cause severe problems in Monaco because the dusty track could interfere with the charging system and cause the rear wheels to lock under braking.

Red Bull’s Mark Webber will start first on the grid for the first time in over a year, even though Michael Schumacher was fastest in Saturday’s qualifying.

Seven-time champion Schumacher will start sixth after a five-place penalty for causing a collision with Williams driver Bruno Senna in Spain, but set the fastest time with a lap of 1 minute 14. 301 seconds.

McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton will start third, ahead of Lotus driver Romain Grosjean, while Schumacher’s penalty means he splits the two Ferraris, with Fernando Alonso fifth and Felipe Massa seventh.

 

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