Nelson Piquet Jr.: From zero to hero
Renault F1 Team driver Nelson Piquet Jr. has gone from zero to hero yesterday at the Hockenheimring. The Brazilian, who was under heavy criticism during the last months, took his first podium place at the German GP. The second place of Piquet was also the first podium finish for Renault this season.
Piquet was under fire as he only completed 3 of the 9 Grands Prix before coming to Germany. At Magny-Cours, the Brazilian finished in seventh position, bringing home his first 2 points for the team. And this while Fernando Alonso was able to place his car in the points on several occasions.
In the beginning of the season, Renault defended the rookie, but after 5 races, some members of the team declared in the press that Nelsinho had to up his game or that he would not complete the season. Even on Saturday, critics had a go at Piquet as he only qualified 17th while team mate Alonso would start the race in 5th position.
The young Brazilian needed a bit of luck, but during the final laps of the German race, Nelson Piquet Jr. proved that he has what it takes to be in Formula One. He kept his head cool and brought home the first podium for Renault in 2008. With this, the rookie surprised friend and enemy as everybody believed that it would be Alonso to bring home the podium places for the French outfit.
With this podium place also came 8 very important championship points for the team of Flavio Briatore. They passed Williams in the Constructors' Championship and are now at place 6, only 1 point away from Red Bull and two from Toyota, who is on Renault's targeted 4th position in the standings.
Hopefully for Renault, they can use this morale boost during the rest of the season to reach the fourth place in the championship.
Flavio Briatore, manager of Nelson Piquet Jr. and team boss of Renault, was very pleased with the result of his pupil: “Nelson had an amazing race. “He proved to be very fast towards the end of the race and was able to remain strong under enormous pressure. He was not able to hold off Hamilton who was much faster, but he was able to defend his second place strongly. I am delighted for him and for the team who really deserve this result.”
