Struggling Piquet needs a cuddle

Eurosport - Thu, 07 May 23:34:00 2009

A cuddle could be all that Brazilian Nelson Piquet needs to revive his flagging Formula One fortunes.

2009 Chinese GP Renault Piquet - 0

The Renault driver, whose father and namesake was a triple world champion, has yet to score a point this year in a team where Fernando Alonso is undisputed number one.

While Spain's double world champion has twice finished in the points, and qualified in the top 10 at all four races including a front row position in China, Piquet has yet to start higher than 14th.

"I think I need to get qualifying sorted," the 23-year-old said at the Spanish Grand Prix on Thursday.

"My strong point always in my career was qualifying. Of course in the lower categories it doesn't mean much but in Brazil or in England or in GP2, I have been the driver that has done the most pole positions in the all years that I have raced.

"I am struggling this year a little bit more," added the Brazilian, whose future at the team has been subject to persistent speculation.

"I should have been much better in qualifying but a bit of lacking testing, new tyres, a new car and new regulations -- that kind of made it a bit more difficult for me.

"I am hoping that getting to circuits that are a little bit more familiar may help me a little bit more to get the little extra edge," he added.

Asked whether perhaps he needed "more of a cuddle and reassurance" from Renault, Piquet smiled.

"I think that's also part of it. Obviously there's a lot of people in the team who don't like doing cuddling," he said.

"But you have to live with that anyway. The important people that we work with day to day, the engineers, they are trying their best.

"They are trying to do everything possible for me to get back to the rhythm of qualifying and get every lap good.

"I think I just need to get a bit more of the rhythm of qualifying back and once that's sorted, I know I am more than capable of doing it."

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Reuters

Comment 1 - 12 of 12

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  1. Mr T says: He aint gettin a cuddle from the T man thats­ for sure. Cuddles are for sissys, and crazy fools!

    From MR T, on Mon 3 Aug 11:30PM

  2. I cuddle him he so handsome I hope he doesn't leave­ F1.

    From , on Mon 3 Aug 9:30PM

  3. LOOK AT HIS FACE IN EVERY PHOTO. EXPRESSIONLESS,­ EMOTIONLESS, DEADPAN. GOSH, HE CAN'T EVEN WHINE­ ABOUT LOOSING HIS RIDE WITHOUT COMING OFF AS A ROBOT. ­ DOES HE EVEN HAVE FACIAL MUSCLES? HAS ANYONE SEEN HIM­ SMILE? I CALL IT THE JIMMY JOHNSON SYNDROME.

    From Mr. Cheesey Fries Pease, on Mon 3 Aug 8:01PM

  4. NP Jr....he's about as exciting as a damp cloth. A­ mumbling automaton who's interviews make Kimi seem­ like a wild-man. Kimi is quiet and reserved, but his­ performance backs that persona up. NP comes off as an­ aristocrat with delusions of grandeur. Got news for you­ sonny…you’re not your dad.

    From Mr. Cheesey Fries Pease, on Mon 3 Aug 7:55PM

  5. should never have been appointed in first place

    From pitcrew66, on Mon 3 Aug 6:21PM

  6. I never had much faith in Nelson ever since he was the­ test driver. I still stand by by belief that they­ should have kept Fisichella. Him and Fernando are a­ winning pair, they have proved that twice, they are­ good friends and both quick. I think Fisi and Alonso­ would have pulled Renault out of the doldrums much­ quicker last year would have passed Toyota quicker and­ maybe caught BMW towards the end.
    I think Piquet will­ be replaced by either Grosjean, Di Grassi or maybe­ Senna by the mid point of the year.

    From ssrest.2007, on Fri 8 May 12:55PM
  7. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    bitty mummy bitty

    From William S, on Fri 8 May 12:50PM

  8. He needs a kick up the backside actually and stop­ thinking he is his father's son.

    From Biggles, on Fri 8 May 12:40PM

  9. What he needs is an amazing tall girl and perhaps she­ will stop commenting on here.

    From Nicola, on Fri 8 May 11:05AM

  10. the car does seem slow but so does Nelson compared to­ other drivers in inferior cars

    From poon.fwaff, on Fri 8 May 9:01AM

  11. Well quentinalora can give him a cuddle but I wont.

    From Doctor Jenkins FRCPsych, on Fri 8 May 8:57AM

  12. Sadly the R29 is a dog, perhaps farther away from the­ pace than last years car. And Alonso is a top driver,­ exactly the sort of man you don't want to be­ compared with. I don't see the point in replacing­ Piquet with the test driver Grosjean though-he has not­ shown world-beating pace and is hampered by the severe­ testing restrictions. Liuzzi, doing well in A1 GP,­ would be a better bet.

    From markrose260, on Fri 8 May 3:05AM
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