Vitaly Petrov 'excited' to join Caterham F1 team

Vitaly Petrov is "very excited" to join the Caterham F1 team after being announced as Heikki Kovalainen's team-mate for the 2012 season at the expense of Italian veteran Jarno Trulli.

Petrov joins Caterham after two years with Renault, who are taking over the Lotus name from his new team, and wants to "push the team" together with Kovalainen to become regular points scorers.

Petrov, the first Russian to drive in F1, also hopes his finding a race seat for the new season will help to make the sport "even more popular" in his homeland.