German GP: Piquet hopes for a 2008-style coup

Nelson Piquet Jr, Renault driver, arrives in Germany with a somewhat special status. A year ago, he finished second in the German race, but it was held on the Hockenheim circuit. This year, the setting changes as the Nurburgring hosts the race. The Brazilian has never driven a Formula 1 car on this track but recalls his GP2 experiences. Indeed, he has always had satisfactory results, so why not this weekend?

Piquet Jr is still in search of his first points to score in the championship. A standout performance like the one he delivered a year ago is in his plans. The potentially difficult conditions could work in his favor. We wish him the best for this weekend, as always…

Nelson, looking back at Silverstone, do you think you gave your maximum effort?

The result was disappointing, even though I believe our one-stop strategy worked well. Unfortunately, my problems began in qualifying when I experienced a technical issue. This forced me to abandon my last attempt in Q2. It’s difficult to score points when starting far back on the grid, but I did everything I could to have a good race and managed to gain a few positions. Overall, the weekend was frustrating for the team.

Will this be the first time you drive a Formula 1 car at the Nürburgring?

« Yes, because last year, the German Grand Prix took place in Hockenheim. I finished 2nd there behind Lewis Hamilton. Nevertheless, the Nürburgring won’t be an entirely new experience for me since I’ve raced there twice in GP2 and each time, I achieved a fairly satisfactory result. I’m really looking forward to driving a Formula 1 car at the Nürburgring. »

What are your expectations for this weekend?

The team has worked a lot on new solutions, especially concerning aerodynamics, since Silverstone. So that should allow us to raise our level of competitiveness. After Silverstone, I said that I needed to improve my own performance during qualifying sessions, and I really wish to get into the top 10 to give myself a chance to score my first points this year. At the Nürburgring, you always have to keep an eye on the weather. We’re close to the mountains and conditions can change quite rapidly, a bit like at Spa. I believe we can expect one or two showers during the weekend!

According to a statement from the Renault F1 Team