Renault driver Vitaly Petrov told to lose 10kg to get on the pace

Renault F1 driver Vitaly Petrov has been told to lose weight by his team, according to reports.

The 25-year-old Russian driver is one of the tallest drivers in the F1 paddock and weighs 10kg more than his team-mate, Polish racer Robert Kubica, acording to German publication Auto Motor und Sport.

With the introduction of the new refuelling rules leading to heavier fuel tanks, the weight of the driver is more critical than ever.

If a driver is lighter, the car is further below the permitted maximum weight, and the team can use ballast to balance the car’s handling.

Petrov has retired from all three races so far and has been outqualified and outraced by Kubica.

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