Piquet not worried by Renault action

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Renault, following Thursday's leaked publication of a statement made by Piquet to the FIA detailing the conspiratorial events of last season's Singapore Grand Prix, have turned the furore into a legal matter. It concerns what Renault described in a statement as "the making of false allegations and a related attempt to blackmail the team into allowing Mr Piquet Jnr to drive for the remainder of the 2009 season."

Piquet, though, is refusing to wilt despite the legal pressure now being brought to bear upon him and his three-times world champion father, saying: "Because I am telling the truth I have nothing to fear, whether from the ING Renault Team, or Mr (Flavio) Briatore."

He added: "Whilst I am well aware of the power and influence of those being investigated, and the vast resources at their disposal, I will not be bullied again into making a decision I regret.

"I have every confidence in the FIA investigation and World Motor Sport Council, and I will be making no further comment until the conclusion of the hearing of 21 September, 2009."

At that meeting of the WMSC in Paris, Renault will answer charges they conspired with Piquet Jnr to cause a deliberate crash to the advantage of Fernando Alonso, who went on to win the sport's first night race.

Piquet has claimed he held a meeting with Briatore and director of engineering Pat Symonds prior to the race during which he was told to crash his car, which he agreed to.

Believing his career with Renault at that time was in the balance, and even though no guarantees were given at that stage, Piquet Jnr felt it would enhance his prospects of retaining his seat.

Briatore, speaking for the first time in the paddock at Monza ahead of Sunday's Italian Grand Prix since the allegations first came to light 12 days ago in Belgium, is confident he and the team will win their respective cases.

"We don't feel we have done anything wrong," insisted Briatore. "The fact is we put forward a plan today in the criminal court in Paris against the two Piquets, and we are very confident the truth will come out. We have enough confidence, our lawyers, myself and Renault, about this happening, and that we will be successful."