Triple world champion of the 1980s, Nelson Piquet, has warned Giancarlo Fisichella that his place in the Renault team could be called into question next year.
The 54-year-old Brazilian, whose namesake and son will be Renault’s official third and reserve driver in 2007, told Italian press that team chiefs are likely to keep a close eye on Fisichella as the F1 veteran shapes up alongside Heikki Kovalainen.
“Nelsinho is going to have an apprenticeship year,” Piquet Senior told the sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport, “but in his first test he was already quicker than Kovalainen.
“This is really the issue. If Kovalainen is faster than Fisichella, then the possibility of Nelsinho racing for Renault is much bigger — even for 2007, even during next season.”
Piquet – who won drivers’ titles in 1981, 1983, and 1987 – insisted that Renault’s chances of retaining the championship in 2007 without Fernando Alonso at the wheel depends on having two ultra-quick race drivers.
21-year-old Nelson Piquet Junior’s father continued: “It will not be good enough to have just one good driver or one good car.”
