Australian GP – Piquet sees, for now, in the short term

After several years of patience, Renault has fulfilled the dream of a young Brazilian named Nelson Piquet Jr. He will be one of the four rookies at the start of the Melbourne race on Sunday.

He will be able to count on the team, which he knows perfectly, and on his teammate Fernando Alonso, who is back with Renault. Piquet acknowledged that he will not stand in his way like Hamilton did last year.

Nelson, you are now just a few days away from your first Grand Prix in Formula 1. What is your state of mind?

« I believe I still don’t fully realize it. In recent weeks, we were testing and I primarily focused on my work and preparation. I’ve done tests before, even last year as the third driver for ING Renault F1 Team. So, I don’t quite feel like a main driver yet. But I think once I arrive in Melbourne and start working there with my engineers, I will realize what I’m about to experience. »

You did a lot of testing this winter. How did you find handling the R28?

« Yes, I drove a lot this winter, which was essential for perfecting both my physical and technical preparation for the championship’s opening. I feel like I made good progress throughout the sessions, and I now feel comfortable in the R28. We still have work to do to gain more performance, but the whole team is very determined, and there is real momentum in the stable. Everyone is giving their all, and the same goes for me. »

What are you expecting from this first Grand Prix?

« Above all, I hope to be able to find my bearings quickly. It’s a new circuit for me, I’ve made sure to prepare but nothing beats the first runs to get an idea of the circuit’s topography, the height of the curbs, the ideal trajectory… Then, I plan to work with my engineers to fine-tune my car, and I will need to be able to make the most of it. Of course, I’m a competitor and I’d like to have a good result for my first Grand Prix. But everything in its own time, I want to approach this first race calmly, step by step. »

You have completed numerous race simulations during your recent preparation sessions. Do you feel ready to compete in a real race?

« I had the opportunity to drive a lot this winter, so today I am physically ready, and I have no worries in this regard, even though I suspect that the Malaysian Grand Prix will not be an easy task! With the team, we have gone over the different procedures that I will encounter in the Grand Prix, and even if it is true that during the race, with the pressure, things can get complicated, I think I am ready and above all, I can’t wait for the championship to start. I have worked my whole life to get here; it is a great satisfaction to be on the grid today, but I am also aware that I have a lot to prove this year, and I am determined to give it my all. »

According to the Renault F1 Team