Nelson Piquet is not certain to finish the season with Renault

During an interview, Nelson Piquet Junior admitted that his position within the Renault F1 Team was not 100% secure for the rest of the season. The Brazilian doesn’t know if he will continue to drive the R29 after the Hungarian Grand Prix, which takes place this weekend.

Piquet has been racing in F1 for a year and a half and has never really demonstrated high performance within the diamond team. The young Brazilian, a rookie last year, has always faced a very strong teammate – Fernando Alonso, double world champion – and has struggled to find his place. The Brazilian has not scored a single point this season, compared to 13 for his teammate.

Last weekend in Germany, rumors began circulating about a possible replacement of the Brazilian for Hungary. Piquet was ultimately retained, but it’s unclear for how long. In fact, the Brazilian is currently being tested by Renault, comparing him to Alonso, with identical machines and aerodynamic developments. If the test isn’t successful and Piquet doesn’t prove himself, he is expected to be replaced by the European Grand Prix in Valencia.

When a journalist asked him last night if his position was secure for the rest of the season, the young 23-year-old driver replied: « No, not 100%. That’s why I focus on my job and let my father handle the rest. »

« In the last race, I didn’t have the machine I should have had. So I knew that I had a good chance of being in Hungary, we just needed to sort out a contract issue and some ego conflicts between a few people. But that’s over and everything is back on track. »

« The problem is that today, a contract in F1 no longer means anything, and we have had some recent cases where the driver/team contract was broken. So for now, the only thing I can do is drive, do my best, and let my father do his job and see what solution he can find.

« I have always tried to do my best, and today I have an opportunity to show my potential with a car of the same caliber as my teammate’s – and which seems much more performant than before, » he continues.

Nelson Piquet admits to feeling strong pressure but does not complain about it. Others have experienced worse than him: « I have already faced this situation last year. This is nothing new for me. We are at such a high level in the competition that we have to live with this pressure. »

« If you look at Lewis [Hamilton] at the end of his first season – in a duel with Alonso for the title – I think he went through worse than I did. Stress is part of the job and you have to learn to live with it. »

At the current time, if Nelson Piquet were to be replaced, it would be Romain Grosjean, the current third driver for Renault, who would replace him.