Turkish GP: Piquet must maintain his focus

Concentration is the only remedy if Nelson Piquet wants to finish a race with points. In any case, it’s the magic potion in Turkey, where the Brazilian will try to run the race that everyone is expecting.

Two weeks ago in Monaco, he couldn’t because Buemi’s eagerness prevented him from continuing. The Swiss driver’s car crashed into Piquet’s. An additional stroke of bad luck, some would say…

Nelson, you were unlucky in Monaco, yet your race was promising…

« It was a disappointing race for me. I had a good start and gained a position at the first corner, but after only a few laps, Sébastien Buemi collided with me and my race ended there. It’s really a shame because we had a good strategy. I was fueled up and could have gotten into the points. Now, I need to put this bad memory behind me and focus on the race this weekend. »

Istanbul Park is a fairly popular circuit among drivers. Is it one of your favorites?

« It’s a very varied circuit, which includes both fast zones and slow sectors. I enjoy driving here. Turn number 8, which is talked about a lot, is very fast. It’s a part of the circuit that is also very physical and it feels like this turn never ends. It is taxing on the tires. We will have less aerodynamic grip this year but with slick tires, we will be able to negotiate this turn almost flat out.

What are your goals this weekend?

« My priority will be to try to score points for the constructors’ championship. The circuit should suit our car and we will have new developments, which should improve our performance. We will need to achieve a good result in qualifying, and I hope we will be in the top ten on the grid. We will then need to choose an aggressive strategy in order to fight in the race. »

According to a statement from the Renault F1 Team