By Sarah Holt
BBC Sport in Valencia |
Petrov will be the first Formula One driver to come from Russia
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Renault unveiled Russian Vitaly Petrov as their second driver for 2010 at Sunday's car launch in Valencia.
The 25-year-old will make his Formula 1 debut for the French team alongside former BMW Sauber driver Robert Kubica.
Petrov will drive an F1 car for the first time when the opening winter test gets under way at the Ricardo Torno circuit near Valencia on Monday.
Renault secured their future in F1 after the Genii Capital group bought a 75% stake in the team in late 2009.
The French team had considered pulling out of the sport after enduring their worst season since it returned as a constructor in 2002.
They finished eighth out of the 10 teams in the 2009 world championship and Fernando Alonso's third place at the Singapore Grand Prix was their only podium of the season.
606: DEBATE
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Renault hit new lows off the track as they were found guilty of fixing the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, won by Alonso, when Nelson Piquet Jr revealed he had been deliberately told to crash to help his then team-mate.
Renault were handed a two-year suspended ban from F1 while team boss Flavio Briatore and former engineering director Pat Symonds were banned from motor sport.
Briatore and Symonds had their suspensions overturned in the French courts but that decision is now the subject of an appeal by governing body the FIA.
More to follow.
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