Piquet dropped - http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2009/08/01/nelson-piquet-jnr-dropped-by-renault/
Can't see any other sources online yet though.
Can't see any other sources online yet though.
HUNGARORING - BUDAPEST - HUNGARY Grand Prix 2009 - Race 10/17
- Thread starter Glaucus
- Start date
I do feel sorry for him though, living in the shadow of your great father, doing well in GP2 then being brought in as Alonso's underling with a boss who doesn't really give you the support you need. Must say, after his outburst against flav I do respect him a little more - it was probably a bit of a stupid thing to do with his job on the line, but he had the gumption to say it how he saw it.
Still, let's see what Grosjean can do now.
Its not necessarily about support.
Renault kept him on as their driver, even though he was performing so badly. In fact, on this very forum, most people were commenting on how Piquet was keeping his seat. IMO he was probably the weakest driver left in F1.
Renault certainly gave him ample opportunity to prove himself. The problem was that his confidence was so damn low, he just couldnt get himself out of that hole.
In all honesty though, the Renault car is a little crap at the moment, so even they brought in a top line driver, it wouldnt make much difference. If and when they can get the car in podium positions, then it becomes important to get a driver who can maximise chances.
One thing's for sure...Piquet certainly isnt a Lewis Hamilton. And Alonso will testify to that.
Renault kept him on as their driver, even though he was performing so badly. In fact, on this very forum, most people were commenting on how Piquet was keeping his seat. IMO he was probably the weakest driver left in F1.
Renault certainly gave him ample opportunity to prove himself. The problem was that his confidence was so damn low, he just couldnt get himself out of that hole.
In all honesty though, the Renault car is a little crap at the moment, so even they brought in a top line driver, it wouldnt make much difference. If and when they can get the car in podium positions, then it becomes important to get a driver who can maximise chances.
One thing's for sure...Piquet certainly isnt a Lewis Hamilton. And Alonso will testify to that.
Soldato
You mean like Alonso did at the weekend? xD
The problem with what happened at the weekend was that Alonso was on super light fuel load. So the fact that he lead maybe wasnt entirely on merit. And if memory serves me right, Renault havent had any podiums yet, though the last weekend may have been their first, had Alonso finished the race.
Soldato
I fully see where you are coming from and agree. I just had to point it out 
I doubt he would have to be honest, fuel adjusted he was only 7th fastest, once RBR mucked up two pit stops on the trot P1 and P2 were a foregone conclusion (barring any incidents). Heck, even Heikki was faster fuel adjusted.
Soldato
Soldato
Confirmation of Piquet's exit - http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/77539
Soldato
Ding dong, *****'s gone! Hurrah!
About half a season too late for Renault though.
About half a season too late for Renault though.
Don
Wow, what an outburst!
Cant see anyone wanting to be number 2 at Renault again
(if true!)
Soldato
Yikes. Slightly bitter, isn't he? Guess I would be in his position, if everything he says about his treatment is true.
Doesn't excuse the fact that he's acted like an arrogrant, spoiled little brat every time he's been on camera lately, but still.....
Thats a nice spin that Piquet JR has put on his poor performances this season. He is preparing to apply for driver positions in other teams/formulae no doubt.
I like the way he has spun the whole thing to make it look like he is almost as good as Alonso. Fair play to him and hope he finds another seat soon.
I like the way he has spun the whole thing to make it look like he is almost as good as Alonso. Fair play to him and hope he finds another seat soon.
I think the best thing he could do is to go back to F3 and attempt to rebuild his reputation. Then if he does ok look at another chance in F1.
His name has been both a help and a hinderance, a help in that it gets him drives but also a hinderance where people would say he only got those drives because of his name - both are right.
We've all known that Renault have given preferance to Fernando for years; it's nothing new. He's got that nunber one seat by being a fantastic driver, and a double world champion to boot. It was one of the reasons that Fernando got so annoyed at McLaren is that he didn't have number one status, as he was bringing two world championships with him, so it all detonated rather spectacularly later on in the year when he couldn't 'break' Lewis. It's not going to be a problem next year however as Fernando is off to Ferarri, and rumours are that Renault are also going to sell up aswell.
In the end Piquet was very nieve to think that he was going to get equal status as Fernando in Renault, he won't be so next time.
His name has been both a help and a hinderance, a help in that it gets him drives but also a hinderance where people would say he only got those drives because of his name - both are right.
We've all known that Renault have given preferance to Fernando for years; it's nothing new. He's got that nunber one seat by being a fantastic driver, and a double world champion to boot. It was one of the reasons that Fernando got so annoyed at McLaren is that he didn't have number one status, as he was bringing two world championships with him, so it all detonated rather spectacularly later on in the year when he couldn't 'break' Lewis. It's not going to be a problem next year however as Fernando is off to Ferarri, and rumours are that Renault are also going to sell up aswell.
In the end Piquet was very nieve to think that he was going to get equal status as Fernando in Renault, he won't be so next time.
The problem is that he was in a team with arguably the best driver on the grid. It's clear Alonso had the best deal regarding testing, equipment and strategy choices (it could hardly be any other way). This season, being so incredibly close has only amplified relative performance differences.
I hope he stays in F1, most likely to get drive with one of the new teams.
I hope he stays in F1, most likely to get drive with one of the new teams.