![]() | |
Nationality | ![]() |
Born | 17 April 1979 |
Samara, Russia | |
Achievements | 2009 Formula A World Champion 2009 Monaco Grand Prix Winner |
Formula A World Championship Career | |
---|---|
227 races run over 13 season(s). | |
Team(s) | Van Doorn, Rossini, Renault, Camel, Honda, Fullman |
Championships | 1 (2009) |
Pole Positions | 8 |
Wins | 15 |
Podiums | 49 |
First Start | 2000 Australian Grand Prix |
First Win | 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix |
Last Win | 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix |
Last Start | 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix |
World Stock Car Championship | |
races run over season(s). | |
Rookie Season | 2013 |
Team(s) | Metzger Racing GmbH, Scuderia Benedetti |
Championships | |
Pole Positions | |
Wins | |
WSCC Canon Driver |
Sergey Romanovich Kuznetsov is a Russian-born racing driver currently competing under a German license in the World Stock Car Championship for Scuderia Benedetti. Kuznetsov is the 2009 Formula A world champion and 2009 Monaco Grand Prix champion. He moved to stock car racing in 2013.
Early Life and Career[edit | edit source]
Kuznetsov was born and raised in the city of Samara, then known as Kuybyshev. His father, Roman, was an engineer for Aviakor, while his mother, Marina, was a nurse. The family had two other children: a son named Pavel (born 1982) and a daughter named Tatyana (born 1986).
Kuznetsov began racing motorcycles in 1988 before moving to karting when he turned 14. He made a name for himself in RUSFormula starting in 1997, and his quick ascension through the ranks was rewarded with a testing position with Fullman in 2000.
Formula A Career (2000 - 2012)[edit | edit source]
Van Doorn (2000)[edit | edit source]
In November 1999, Kuznetsov tested for both the Fullman team (at Silverstone) and the Autosport Picart team at Catalunya, having impressed with his drive in RUSFormula. He was offered a drive in Formula C with Picart, followed by running as the team's test and reserve driver for a season to prepare for Formula A. Picart was not prepared to offer Kuznetsov a full-time drive in Formula A, however, and he declined a seat for both the Picart team and Jaguar, which had been offered to him under similar terms by chairman Jimmy Selkirk.
Van Doorn chairman Peter Van Doorn phoned Kuznetsov on Christmas Eve that same year to offer him a race seat following the departure of one of its drivers. Van Doorn asked Kuznetsov if he was ready to race in Formula A, and he initially hesitated before being convinced by his father to tell Van Doorn that he was ready. He competed in a shoot-out test for the seat against Bartolo Javier, with Kuznetsov winning the seat. He became the youngest Russian FA driver in history at the time; because he did not hold a Super License, he was required to complete 300km on consecutive testing days and have the approval of 18 members of the 26-member FA Commission.
He scored a sixth-place finish during the season's second race at Brazil, and maintained pace roughly even with his teammate Richard Schöne throughout the season. Kuznetsov was informed after a slight dip in performance that he would be replaced in the seat by José María Beltrán, 1999 Indianapolis 500 champion, for the 2001 season. It was later revealed that Kuznetsov had been intended to only fill the seat for the year until Beltrán became available. Van Doorn retained the rights to Kuznetsov's contract, and loaned him to Rossini Sport for two years.
Despite concerns about his inexperience, he made relatively few errors over the course of the season, and finished a respectable eighth place with 12 points.
Rossini (2001)[edit | edit source]
In 2001, he was partnered with the more experienced Giovanni Fuoco at Rossini, which was purchased by Renault during the preseason. The car lacked power steering and horsepower compared to the faster teams, and a lack of preseason testing meant he was outperformed regularly by Fuoco. His best result was a fifth in Germany, and he finished 17th in the Driver's Championship with just two points scored. There was wide speculation that he would be replaced at the end of the season, and team boss Franco Bandini offered him the chance to leave at the end of the year.
Renault (2002)[edit | edit source]
Rossini rebranded as Renault in 2002 and Kuznetsov was paired with Jacopo Tarvano. Bandini invited Kuznetsov to spend two weeks at a ranch in Kenya to bond with the team and do some physical training. Kuznetsov reported feeling "much more confident" in his relationship with his engineering staff headed into the season.
Kuznetsov's form improved significantly compared to the previous season, in part because his car had power steering and launch control. Though often outqualified by Tarvano, Kuznetsov had faster race pace and outscored his more experienced teammate. Kuznetsov finished 7th with 14 points on the season. Despite his improved form, and his desire to stay with the team, he found out via the press that he would be replaced by rookie Fermin Arcona. Bandini was heavily criticized for this decision, but shrugged off the controversy by stating that "time will prove I made the correct call". He further accused Kuznetsov of being a "lazy playboy". Kuznetsov signed a two-year deal with Camel in July, to be paired with 1997 champion Jean Vasseur.
Camel (2003 - 2005)[edit | edit source]
Vasseur treated Kuznetsov with open hostility, refusing to speak with him and deriding the Russian driver as a "would-be playboy". Their relationship did not improve after Australia, with Vasseur making a pit stop when Kuznetsov was due in, leaving Kuznetsov waiting on pit lane; Vasseur attributed the issue to "radio problems", to the disagreement of Kuznetsov and the team. He scored eight points in the first six races. He was forced to miss the Monaco Grand Prix due to medical concerns after a crash where he was knocked unconscious briefly. Vasseur lost his seat before the penultimate race of the season after being handily outperformed by Kuznetsov, who finished ninth in the championship with 17 points.
In 2004, Kuznetsov was the most experienced driver on the team for the first time. He set ambitious goals for the season, desiring to challenge for podiums and a Constructor's championship. He took three podiums in the first four races of the year, and ten overall out of 18 races on the season, propelling him to third in the Drivers' Championship and the team to second in the Constructors' title. He signed an extension with Camel for two more seasons.
2005 was a step back for the team, as they were lacking pace due to new aerodynamic regulations; Kuznetsov was disqualified from the San Marino Grand Prix after the car was found to have violated the rules with regard to the weight in the fuel system. The team was banned from two races. A late season rally propelled Kuznetsov to ninth in the standings with 37 points.
Honda (2006 - 2009)[edit | edit source]
Camel was renamed Honda after Honda agreed to purchase a majority stake in the team; Kuznetsov was partnered with the experienced Riccardo Bianchi. The cars performed well in testing, boosting the confidence of both drivers in the car. Kuznetsov scored points in 11 of the 18 races, including his first victory in the rain at Hungary.
The team's 2007 campaign was a step back, as the aerodynamic design of the car proved to be significantly imbalanced. Kuznetsov primarily finished in the midfield, with a highest finish of fifth in China, scoring six points and placing 15th in the driver standings.
2008 was a repeat of 2007, with the Honda proving uncompetitive; Honda's team principal Ron Brothers preached caution, as the team had been significantly set back by the design flaws of the 2007 car. Kuznetsov only recorded one points finish at the Spanish Grand Prix.
Despite the economic crisis forcing Honda to withdraw financial backing prior to the 2009 season, Brothers helped develop a quick, reliable car on a shoestring budget thanks to an innovative double diffuser and significantly improved overall aerodynamic profile. Kuznetsov won six of the first seven races, including the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix, and scored 95 points en route to winning the world championship over teammate Bianchi. With the Honda team's future uncertain (it was later purchased jointly by Monster Energy and Mercedes), Kuznetsov informed the team he was leaving for a new challenge.
Fullman (2010 - 2012)[edit | edit source]
Kuznetsov signed with Fullman to partner with 2008 World Champion Lachlan Hawthorne; he would open the season with two victories in the first four races, but a miscommunication at Turkey saw his relationship with Hawthorne turn frosty. He remained in contention for the championship until Brazil, where a fifth place finish mathematically eliminated him. He took a third in Abu Dhabi and finished fifth in the championship.
2011 saw similar results to 2010, with three race victories and a second place points finish; despite winning in Japan, he was eliminated from title contention when Simon Veidt mathematically clinched the championship at the same race. Kuznetsov and Hawthorne's relationship remained strained, with Hawthorne accusing Fullman of favoring the Russian driver.
2012 started poorly for Kuznetsov, despite winning the season opening race in Australia and taking second in China and Germany; his smooth driving style caused problems generating tire temperature, and his struggles plagued him for much of the first half of the season. It was only by radically changing his driving style that he was able to generate sufficient temperature and grip in his tires, and he rebounded to fifth in the driver's championship after wins in Belgium and Brazil. Kuznetsov had a contract extension on the table at the end of the 2012 season, but elected to leave Formula A due to the new regulations putting him at what he felt was a competitive disadvantage
WSCC Career (2013 - present)[edit | edit source]
Metzger Racing GmbH (2013 - 2019)[edit | edit source]
Kuznetsov's original aim was to race touring cars, but Johann Metzger, team principal of Metzger Racing GmbH, phoned Kuznetsov on New Year's Day, offering to put him in one of his cars for 2013. Kuznetsov was one of a small handful of Formula A and Champ Car drivers on BMW's short list, and was viewed as the most likely to make the transition to stock cars well, owing to his smooth driving style and intelligence on the track.
Scuderia Benedetti (2020 - present)[edit | edit source]
Personal Life[edit | edit source]
Kuznetsov currently lives in Berlin, Germany with his wife, actress Elizabeth Leach; the couple began dating in 2014 and married in 2017. Kuznetsov also maintains a home in Leach's hometown of Columbia, South Carolina, where the pair reside during the American tours of the WSCC schedule; Kuznetsov once commented that flying back-and-forth between Germany and America weekly was "insanely expensive and thoroughly exhausting". Kuznetsov and Leach have a son and a daughter together.
Kuznetsov has maintained a close relationship with his siblings; he helped both Pavel and Tatyana pay for schooling in the United Kingdom, and has been spotted on the pit box during his sister's Eurocup races.
His newphew, Pavel, currently races in the SC-4 Arab and Nordic championships.
In response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Kuznetsov petitioned WSCA officials to be allowed to change his nationality to German. His request was granted prior to the opening weekend in Thompson.
Racing Record[edit | edit source]
Complete Formula A Championship Results[edit | edit source]
Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | WDC | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2000 | Van Doorn | Van Doorn PVD22 | BMW E41 V10 | AUS Ret |
BRA 6 |
SMR Ret |
GBR 5 |
ESP 17 |
EUR 10 |
MON Ret |
CAN 11 |
FRA 8 |
AUT 5 |
GER 4 |
HUN 9 |
BEL 5 |
ITA Ret |
USA Ret |
JPN 5 |
MAL Ret |
8th | 12 | |||
2001 | Rossini Sport | Rossini R201 | Renault RS21 V10 | AUS 14 |
MAL 11 |
BRA 10 |
SMR 12 |
ESP 15 |
AUT Ret |
MON 7 |
CAN Ret |
EUR 13 |
FRA 16 |
GBR 15 |
GER 5 |
HUN Ret |
BEL Ret |
ITA Ret |
USA 9 |
JPN 7 |
17th | 2 | |||
2002 | Renault | Renault R02 | Renault RS22 V10 | AUS Ret |
MAL 4 |
BRA 4 |
SMR 5 |
ESP 12 |
AUT 7 |
MON Ret |
CAN 15 |
EUR 5 |
GBR 12 |
FRA 6 |
GER Ret |
HUN Ret |
BEL Ret |
ITA 5 |
USA 8 |
JPN 6 |
7th | 14 | |||
2003 | Camel Racing | CR03 | Honda RA003E V10 | AUS 10 |
MAL 7 |
BRA Ret |
SMR 8 |
ESP 9 |
AUT 4 |
MON DNS |
CAN Ret |
EUR 7 |
FRA Ret |
GBR 8 |
GER 8 |
HUN 10 |
ITA Ret |
USA Ret |
JPN 4 |
9th | 17 | ||||
2004 | Camel Racing | CR04 | Honda RA004E V10 | AUS 6 |
MAL 3 |
BHR 3 |
SMR 2 |
ESP 8 |
MON 2 |
EUR 3 |
CAN 3 |
USA Ret |
FRA 5 |
GBR 4 |
GER 2 |
HUN 5 |
BEL Ret |
ITA 3 |
CHN 2 |
JPN 3 |
BRA Ret |
3rd | 85 | ||
2005 | Camel Racing | CR05 | Honda RA005E V10 | AUS 11 |
MAL Ret |
BHR Ret |
SMR DSQ |
ESP | MON | EUR 10 |
CAN Ret |
USA DNS |
FRA 4 |
GBR 5 |
GER 3 |
HUN 5 |
TUR 5 |
ITA 8 |
BEL 3 |
BRA 7 |
JPN 5 |
CHN 8 |
9th | 37 | |
2006 | JT Honda Race Team | Honda RH06 | Honda RA806E V8 | BHR 4 |
MAL 3 |
AUS 10 |
SMR 7 |
EUR Ret |
ESP 6 |
MON 11 |
GBR Ret |
CAN 9 |
USA Ret |
FRA Ret |
GER 4 |
HUN 1 |
TUR 4 |
ITA 5 |
CHN 4 |
JPN 5 |
BRA 3 |
6th | 56 | ||
2007 | Honda GP | Honda RH07 | Honda RA807E V8 | AUS 15 |
MAL 12 |
BHR Ret |
ESP 12 |
MON 11 |
CAN Ret |
USA 12 |
FRA 8 |
GBR 10 |
EUR Ret |
HUN Ret |
TUR 13 |
ITA 8 |
BEL Ret |
JPN 11 |
CHN 5 |
BRA Ret |
15th | 6 | |||
2008 | Honda GP | Honda RH08 | Honda RA808E V8 | AUS Ret |
MAL 10 |
BHR Ret |
ESP 6 |
TUR 11 |
MON 11 |
CAN 11 |
FRA Ret |
GBR Ret |
GER 17 |
HUN 12 |
EUR 13 |
BEL 15 |
ITA 15 |
SIN 9 |
JPN 14 |
CHN 16 |
BRA 13 |
18th | 3 | ||
2009 | Brothers Honda GP | RB001 | Honda RA809E V8 | AUS 1 |
MAL 1 |
CHN 3 |
BHR 1 |
ESP 1 |
MON 1 |
TUR 1 |
GBR 6 |
GER 5 |
HUN 7 |
EUR 7 |
BEL Ret |
ITA 2 |
SIN 5 |
JPN 8 |
BRA 5 |
ABU 3 |
1st | 95 | |||
2010 | Fullman | Fullman FR4-25 | Mercedes FO 108X V8 | BHR 7 |
AUS 1 |
MAL 8 |
CHN 1 |
ESP 5 |
MON Ret |
TUR 2 |
CAN 2 |
EUR 3 |
GBR 4 |
GER 5 |
HUN 8 |
BEL Ret |
ITA 2 |
SIN 4 |
JPN 4 |
KOR 12 |
BRA 5 |
ABU 3 |
5th | 214 | |
2011 | Fullman | Fullman FR4-26 | Mercedes FO 108Y V8 | AUS 6 |
MAL 2 |
CHN 4 |
TUR 6 |
ESP 3 |
MON 3 |
CAN 1 |
EUR 6 |
GBR Ret |
GER Ret |
HUN 1 |
BEL 3 |
ITA 2 |
SIN 2 |
JPN 1 |
KOR 4 |
IND 2 |
ABU 3 |
BRA 3 |
2nd | 270 | |
2012 | Fullman | Fullman FR4-27 | Mercedes FO 108Z V8 | AUS 1 |
MAL 12 |
CHN 2 |
BHR 18 |
ESP 9 |
MON 16 |
CAN 16 |
EUR 8 |
GBR 10 |
GER 2 |
HUN 6 |
BEL 1 |
ITA Ret |
SIN 2 |
JPN 4 |
KOR Ret |
IND 5 |
ABU 4 |
USA 5 |
BRA 1 |
5th | 188 |
Complete World Stock Car Championship Results[edit | edit source]
Year | Entrant | Number | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | WSCC | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | Metzger Racing GmbH | 2 | BMW | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | Scuderia Benedetti | 5 | Ferrari | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 |