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Renault's Nelson Piquet Jr tells Eurosport what he thinks about team-mate Fernando Alonso and what he expects from the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend.

What did you think of the track in Valencia?

I thought it was a great venue and that the organisers gave us a really interesting circuit. It was tough to overtake, but it was an exciting place with some high-speed sections, which is unusual for a street course. It's a shame that we came away without any points.

Do you think Felipe Massa should have been penalised with a drive-through penalty for his incident with Adrian Sutil in the pit-lane?

The stewards have all the facts and it's their decision so I'm sure they made the right one.

Who do you think will triumph in the race for the title - and why?

I'd like to see Felipe win. He's had a really strong year and the whole of Brazil would love to see him do it.

What was the difference between the race in Spain and the previous two grands prix, where you scored points? Were you happy with 11th in the end?

I struggled in qualifying and after that I knew the race would be tough. I was stuck in the midfield and it was difficult to overtake, especially as I damaged my front wing on the first lap. So it was a disappointing weekend for the team and one to put behind us.

In what areas will you and the team look to improve?

We had the test in Monza last week and did some work for the upcoming races there. We have a new aero package for Monza because it's the fastest track of the year so hopefully that will give us an advantage.

Do you expect Fernando Alonso to be at Renault next season?

I don't know. You need to ask him that. I hope so as he's a great team-mate and there is nobody better to compare yourself with.

Was it fun to be back racing again after the summer break? What was your favourite part of the race weekend?

Yes, it felt good to be back in the car, especially as we were racing at a new venue. The first laps exploring a new track are always fun as you need to work out where the grip is and find the limits of the car and the track quickly - that's especially challenging when you are surrounded by concrete walls!

Did you sample any Spanish culture while you were in the country?

I do like Spain and we spend a lot of time there during the season with all the testing that we do. It was nice to actually be racing in the city and in that sense it felt a little bit like Monaco. You could walk out of the paddock and suddenly be in the middle of the city near the hotels and restaurants, and that was great.

What do you expect from Spa-Francorchamps in the next round? Is it a circuit you enjoy and is the car suited to it?

Spa is probably my favourite circuit of the year. As a driver, it's such an exciting place with some amazing corners such as Eau Rouge and Pouhon. I've raced there in Formula 3 and GP2 already so it's a track I know well, but it will be extra special in a Formula One car. My goal this weekend is to reach Q3 in qualifying, get a good start and hope for some points. As we know, the weather sometimes comes into play in Spa, but to be honest I'd prefer a dry race.

What are your revised aims for the rest of the season?

We're still aiming to finish fourth in the championship. We know that won't be easy and that Toyota are tough competitors, but the whole team believes it is possible. My approach for the rest of the season won't change: I will travel to each of the remaining races aiming to do my best and score points for the team.

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport