Piquet Sr. says Briatore ban deserved

Making his first appearance at an F1 race since the controversy surrounding his son's deliberate crash in last year's Singapore event surfaced, Piquet Sr. says he has little sympathy for the punishment handed down on Briatore.

"He's deserved it," Piquet said in a lengthy interview with Gazzetta dello Sport. "Let's suppose it wasn't his idea: to let a young driver do and be persuaded to do something like that is terrible. He must stay away from racing."

Despite supporting the penalty on Briatore, Piquet has said that he has taken little pleasure from the affair.

"What happened doesn't please me," he said. "I had a fantastic career, and before F1 my son won in every class. I put him in the hands of Briatore and the first year wasn't bad.

"2009, instead, has been a disaster because he couldn't test except for a minimum during winter testing. When he was made to crash at Singapore last year, right here at Interlagos I reported the fact to the FIA by talking to Charlie Whiting.

"He told me that either there was convincing proof, or Nelsinho would have had to make a written statement, otherwise no action could be taken."

He added: "When in Hungary I asked Briatore for an explanation over Nelsinho's sacking, he replied with the attitude of an untouchable: 'If you have something to complain about do it in court. I'm a business man and act like one.'

"So I replied harshly that he must not be upset with me for what I would do. And I went to Paris to speak to Mosley about it. I asked him what risks would Nelsinho face. He replied: 'If he comes here to speak spontaneously and the investigation shows that he told the truth, then he will have immunity from the World Council."

Piquet has also revealed that he did not want his son to remain at Renault for this season - as he had already agreed a deal for him to switch to Scuderia Toro Rosso.

"It was Briatore looking for an extension. I, instead, wanted Nelsinho not to race with Renault anymore. I had already found for him a seat at Toro Rosso with [Gerhard] Berger.

"But Nelsinho wanted to stay at Renault in 2009, because there was the chance that Alonso would go to Ferrari. Briatore convinced him that he would make him test. With the clause, however, that if he didn't score at least 40% of Alonso's points by mid season, the contract could be terminated."

Regarding whose idea the crash plan was, Piquet said: "It was them proposing this three hours before the race. They wanted Nelsinho to sign an option for 2009 since the previous day. I had suggested to him not to sign anything.

"So Briatore told him: 'How can you race in F1 if it's your father deciding instead of you? But if you want to help the team you could do this...' Then Briatore left and Symonds said that it could be a good idea. Nelsinho was persuaded."