Petrov warned, nothing in life is free
Renault team boss Eric Boullier has urged Vitaly Petrov to be more vocal himself before criticising team-mate Robert Kubica for his lack of communication.
Petrov recently claimed he was unable to learn anything from Kubica over the course of his rookie campaign last season as he cited the Pole as "a closed person".
The Russian certainly struggled throughout his debut year, winning just 27 of Renault's 163 points as Kubica effectively carried the team.
Only a stirring drive in the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi, when he kept Ferrari's Fernando Alonso at bay and so prevented the Spaniard from winning his third F1 title, earned him a new two-year contract.
Clearly there appears to be little love lost between the eastern European duo - hence why Boullier is far from worried at suggestions Kubica potentially hampered Petrov last year, and instead is urging him to stand on his own two feet.
"Not at all," said Boullier, when asked if he was concerned.
"The funny thing is Vitaly is not very talkative. It's their culture. Both of them are the same - they are both very secretive.
"Robert is clearly getting on with his own life. He knows where he wants to go, so it's up to Vitaly to make contact with him.
"I think Vitaly was expecting things to be more easy for him in his first year, but it's up to him.
"That's one of the many subjects we have discussed with him - that if he wants to deliver he has to do it by himself, and not expect people to give him things for free.
"It's the same for the relationship he has with Robert."
Asked about Petrov's remarks, Kubica in turn made fun of the 26-year-old, notably highlighting the number of incidents involving the man from the Black Sea resort of Vyborg.
"If he said that then that's his point of view. I have a different point of view," said Kubica.
Smiling, he added: "I'm happy because I learned something from him, even without knowing or wanting it."
When questioned as to what he had learned, Kubica replied: "How to keep the car on the track, or how not to go off the track... no, I'm joking."
Despite claiming at one stage last season that a more competitive team-mate would be more beneficial for the team, Kubica maintains he has no qualms with Petrov.
"There are other people within the team who decide on the driver line-up, so I'm happy to be here and for Vitaly to be my team-mate," added Kubica.
"I think Vitaly will have less problems this year than he did last year because it's normal when a rookie driver joins a team that it is not easy.
"So it will be a far easier task this year than it was for him last year."
Today sees the new F1 season start to crank into life as a number of cars hit the track for the first day of the first test at the Circuito Ricardo Tormo in Valencia.
Ferrari, Team Lotus, Sauber and Renault are followed today in the launch arena by Champions Red Bull, along with Mercedes, Williams and Toro Rosso.
McLaren, Force India, Virgin Racing and Hispania Racing will all run with interim cars before they launch their official challengers at various stages this month.
Credit: PlanetF1.com (www.planetf1.com)
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