Piquet wants to be at the same level as his teammate

The young Brazilian reflects on his first day behind the wheel of the R29 at the Algarve circuit.

Nelson, you were the first to drive the R29, what are your reactions?

« It’s great to be in the car for the very first time, for the very first test. It’s a victory in itself and I want to congratulate the whole team here and at the factory for their work. The bad weather, humidity, and track conditions slightly limited what we could accomplish today. »

« We therefore focused on testing the different systems of the car, covering distances, and gathering as much data as possible.

possible information.

How does the car compare to the R28?

« It’s difficult to say because the conditions weren’t very good. I’ll be able to notice the difference when we drive on a dry track. I’m settled in the car in the same way as before, so not much difference from the R28 on that side, but I think there was a bit more room in the cockpit last year. »

« The aerodynamics are different to encourage overtaking, but since there was no one in front of me today, I haven’t tried it yet. »

This is your second year with Renault, what difference does it make?

« Tackling my second year makes a huge difference because I have a good year of experience behind me. I know the circuits, the team, and the different areas I need to work on. I learned a lot last year and I can now capitalize and build on this knowledge. My goal is to get everything I can out of the car during each race and reach the same level as my teammate. »

What is the schedule for the rest of the week at Algarve Motor Park?

« Once again, rainy weather is forecasted for today, so I believe the day will be similar to today. It’s a bit unfortunate because I am very impressed with this new track and I am eager to drive under good conditions. We will continue to learn a lot about the new car and I hope we can work on the setups later in the week. »

According to a press release from Renault F1 Team