Piquet: Briatore is ignorant about F1

Having already labelled Briatore as his 'executioner' in an outspoken statement issued in the wake of him being dropped by the team, Piquet has again aimed his anger at the flamboyant Italian in a controversial interview with this week's AUTOSPORT.

"He is ignorant about Formula 1," said Piquet. "Maybe because of all the things that didn't favour me put me so low that he just didn't care. He didn't understand what is going on with the team.

"If you listen to the pit-wall radio, it's like a joke. He hasn't got a clue what is happening in the race. Sometimes he asks if a driver has slick or wet tyres when it is obvious.

"Everyone knows that his ego is bigger than anything else. He likes to show off. You can be a very good businessman and whatever, but the F1 team itself can do very well without him. When I first started he would attend all of the meetings and briefings, but taking away the business side, he makes comments that don't make any sense.

"The only good thing the team takes out of him is his good relationship with Bernie and the FIA. Other than that, he doesn't know what is going on. It's like listening to something my sister would say about the car. Pat Symonds is the guy who really understands what is going on with the team."

Briatore has declined to comment about Piquet's statements.

Piquet says he has no qualms about having gone on the attack in his statement and the AUTOSPORT interview after his dismissal from Renault.

"We're free to say whatever we feel like and I don't see why more drivers don't do that," he said. "It was important for everyone to know what has been going on and not to hide like a lot of other drivers tend to do because they are scared that it could put their career in danger."

The full interview with Piquet, which includes his thoughts on Fernando Alonso, team equality, his contract and his future, is in this week's AUTOSPORT magazine.