Nelson Piquet Sr. says he is ready to launch legal proceedings to free his son from a management contract with Flavio Briatore.
Senior wants to free son from Briatore contract
Nelson Piquet Sr. says he is ready to launch legal proceedings in order to free his son from a management contract with former Renault team boss Flavio Briatore.
Ironically, the Italian still represents Piquet Jr. in spite of the Brazilian driver making allegations that Briatore asked him to deliberately crash in last year's Singapore Grand Prix.
Briatore, together with executive director of engineering Pat Symonds, left the team earlier this week ahead of Renault's appearance before the FIA's World Motor Sport Council on Monday.
Piquet Sr. is awaiting the WMSC verdict - Renault having said they will not contest the FIA's charge - before determining whether to pursue a case against Briatore.
"I could not talk to other team members about it (the contract), because Nelsinho was working for Flavio and his management has a contract with the team," Piquet Sr. told
Auto Motor und Sport in Germany.
"Now I finally have something- contract violation - to put pressure on Flavio.
"If the FIA world council confirms the case, I will have a hold for going to court."
The WMSC meet in Paris to review their case, and issue any penalty, against Renault over charges of conspiracy relating to last year's Singapore Grand Prix.
In deciding not to contest the charge, Renault have effectively admitted conspiring with Piquet Jr. to cause a crash to the advantage of team-mate Fernando Alonso.
The decision came after Briatore said last Friday that no wrongdoing took place, and that he had the support of the team.
Nothing to fear
At the same time he commenced criminal proceedings against the Piquets concerning the making of false allegations and a related attempt to blackmail.
However, Piquet Sr. admits he has nothing to fear on that score, the three-time world champion telling Briatore: "Just go ahead."
He added: "I have enough money to afford the best lawyers. And what is he going to trial for? Does he want to put the truth on trial?"
Piquet Sr, who initially informed the FIA of the allegations after Renault sacked his son, believes Briatore's arrogance is to blame for his downfall.
"At a certain point people like Flavio have so much power, they believe they can walk on water," he said.
"He obviously thought, even though there was lots of proof, no-one could catch him."
Meanwhile, the WMSC appear set to review their policy in relation to punishing individual team members.
Under FIA regulations, the parting of ways between Briatore, Symonds and Renault means that no formal action can now be taken against either man.
The Council still have unlimited power when it comes to imposing a penalty against Renault, however.
It is why an amendment to the ISC seems set to be debated, and if agreed upon, will allow the FIA to act in the future.
