The "Top Dog" for Australia is...
- Published on Mar 28th, 2011 by Benson Jammichello"Hot Rod or Hot Dog" is our regular post-grand prix column where we review all of the driver performances in that race. As part of the process, one driver is declared as Badger's "Top Dog" - not necessarily the winner, it could be for their choice of breakfast or anything else that justifies this accolade...
It has to be Petrov...
After being slated by most, if not all, of the Badger team all the way through last season (particularly in this column), it's time we showed him some respect. He only finished in the top ten 4 times during 2010 which, given the car he had, was a woeful return. So, to finish third in Australia and to drive with such confidence is a welcome boost to a Renault team shorn of its best driver.
It was a great drive all weekend from the Russian, exemplified by the fact that he went about much of it under the radar. Was last season's holding off of Fernando Alonso the making off him? It certainly proved he could keep his head under pressure, but the key difference this time was that he was using it at a time when he could achieve a good result on his own merits, not clinging on for dear life to a position on a rubbish track.
The fact he said afterwards that the result was for the whole team and he was "totally ecstatic" shouldn't come as any surprise. It is, after all, fairly standard F1 fare. That said, when said with a brilliant Russian accent and, to be honest, a nice face, it seemed to carry more weight. Lewis Hamilton, take note.
Well done Vitaly, let this Top Dog award be the gateway to better things.
Driver character graphics kindly provided by Unlap - purveyors of Badger TShirts and other great motorsport-themed threads.
Comments and Discussion
Petrov drove a stunning race it must be said, he really didn't put a foot wrong. however i must disagree, Perez, despite the exclusion that wasn't his fault, drove the most amazing race I think i've ever seen from a rookie. to last all that time on those tyres was scintillating. i tip my hat to the man.
I agree completely. I was criticised day in and day out last season for supporting him. To finally see him in the post-race press conference made it all worth it. He was the only person there who looked properly happy to be on the podium.
My driver of the day
Petrov did very well obviously, but Perez deserves top dog more imo. While a great drive from him, Petrov spent most of the race on his lonesome banging out good laps but with little to no close racing to pressure him. Perez, in his rookie start, was mixing it up with wheel to wheel battles, managed his tires better than any other driver - a truly spectacular feat with so little F1 experience- and finished in front of his very fast teammate.
The big question is just where would Bobby K have been in that car?
Probably third. He wouldn't have had Alonso near him at the end and would have been closer to Lewis, maybe even pressuring, but probably still third.
Pérez drove the wheels off that Sauber - damn near literally considering he managed to run 35 laps on the same soft tires other drivers were struggling to get 20 laps out of. But Petrov on the podium? That's just not something anyone in their right mind would have predicted. If last year hadn’t happened then sure, I'd give it to Pérez but last year did happen and that makes Petrov THE story of the 2011 opener.
I know i'm going to get sworn at for saying this, but i wish people would shut up about Kubica. He's not in the car now, and he's unlikely to be in the car this season. What 'might' have happened is all hypothetical and completely pointless.
Yes we all wish him well, yes he's a good driver and it's unfortunate for him and the team. But it's not good for anyone to keep reminding us/them/him of where he should be.
I think the big turning point for Vitaly was Qualifying. Last year he often promised so much in practice then come Saturday afternoon he crumbled under the pressure, this time he did not and delivered when it mattered.
I also believe that Renault team is incapable of looking after two drivers equally, they're too used to revolving around 1 driver (mostly Alonso) and semi-ignoring the other one. Petrov suddenly finding himself as the number 1 (by dint of being in his second year with the team) has gained an extra level of resolve to not let the team down.
The question is whether he can continue to perform every race and not make the silly mistakes that punctuated his 2010 campaign. Hope so, he's a good bloke.
Dave I agree with you about kubica people should stop saying if only this and that. However if *I* were kubica maybe I would want people talking about me so they didn't forget who i am or what i was capable of.