Piquet: Learning experience

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Despite a poor F1 debut, Nelson Piquet Jr. was spared the embarrassment of public criticism by Renault team boss Flavio Briatore.

Having qualified 21st for the race - starting 20th after Force India's Adrian Sutil was sent to the back of the grid - Piquet had a dismal race from start to finish.

Attempting to make up ground at the first turn, Piquet forced a Super Aguri wide making Giancarlo Fisichella's Force India jump another car and into the gravel.

The Brazilian rookie then continued to limp around the circuit, almost two-and-a-half seconds per lap slower than team-mate Fernando Alonso, before coming to a stop on lap 31 with a burnt-out clutch.

Tongue-lashing

Nevertheless, the 22-year-old escaped the sort of tongue-lashing aimed by Briatore at then Renault driver Heikki Kovalainen when he made his F1 debut in Melbourne 12 months earlier.

Having witnessed the Finn finish 10th after a wayward afternoon in Albert Park, Briatore was moved to comment: "If I say it was good, I'm a complete idiot. It was rubbish."

However, with double world champion Alonso driving a fine race from 11th on the grid to finish fourth, Briatore was far more understanding of Piquet's plight.

"As far as Nelson goes, this was his first race and a difficult one for him," Briatore said.

"But I am sure this has been a learning experience for him, and I am confident that in the races to come he will do better."