Spanish GP: Piquet more optimistic than ever after Bahrain

The last Bahrain Grand Prix offered a glimmer of hope for the Piquet camp. Finishing in 10th place is a source of motivation for both Nelson Piquet Jr and his father, Nelson Piquet. Indeed, the latter did not hesitate to raise his voice to defend his son’s qualities. Since the beginning of the season, the Renault driver has been under pressure from the French manufacturer as well as his team manager, Flavio Briatore.

The Brazilian is definitely on the hot seat as he is not having the expected start to the season. In any case, he is not doing better than his rookie year since no points have been scored in the championship. Results are eagerly awaited…

Nelson [Piquet], we have completed a quarter of the 2009 season. Can you share your feelings about your return to Europe for the Spanish Grand Prix…

« I had a difficult start to the season and learned a lot from the first four races. The Grand Prix in the rain in Malaysia and China were quite frustrating and didn’t allow us to evaluate the car’s real performance. That said, I’m much more optimistic after Bahrain, where the car was equipped with the new diffuser. I would have preferred to finish in the points, but all teams are very competitive and reliable this year. So finishing in tenth position was perhaps the best possible result that day. »

Barcelona is probably the circuit where you’ve raced the most. Do you enjoy this track?

« It’s the circuit I know best, but it may not be one of my favorites because it’s not the most challenging for drivers. The key is to have a balanced car with a good aerodynamic setup to perform well in the fast corners. Overtaking is difficult, so it’s necessary to be well-positioned in qualifying to be able to choose a good race strategy. The Barcelona circuit is very demanding on the tires, so good evaluation work during free practice is essential. »

Has the R29 undergone many changes since the beginning of the season?

« We have certainly improved the car with the new diffuser and the team has done a remarkable job in responding so quickly. The front wing was also modified in Bahrain and the car is now much easier to drive than it was at the start of the season. I know that the whole team is working very hard to improve performance. Now that we are back in Europe, it will be easier to bring new developments.

According to a statement from the Renault F1 team