Despite the criticism and rumours surrounding him after a less-than-sparkling start to the 2008
Formula One season,
Nelson Piquet Jr says that he will not be swayed as he heads for the biggest weekend on the calendar.
While coming into a
Renault team struggling to regain its previous highs, and being ranged against double world champion
Fernando Alonso, Piquet's future has been the subject of much speculation in recent weeks, with suggestions that he could be replaced imminently should his performances not pick up. Twice the Brazilian rookie has fallen in the first phase of qualifying, and his finishing record shows three DNFs and a high of eleventh from his five races to date.
Renault development scheme star Romain Grosjean and, more bizarrely, former
Super Aguri team leader
Takuma Sato have both been linked to Piquet's seat alongside Alonso, but the Brazilian insists that he will not let that affect his focus in Monaco this weekend.
"I will approach the race in my usual way, trying to do the best job I can for the team," Piquet claimed, "It would be great if we can score some points and that will be my goal, so I will need to qualify well, hopefully in the top ten, and then try and have a consistent race.
"It has not been an easy introduction to Formula One - I've made a few mistakes and had some bad luck, and this is not how I imagined my first five races as a
F1 driver. But the important thing is that I have gained some valuable experience, and learnt some lessons, which I hope will allow me to become a stronger driver for the rest of the season."
Predecessor
Heikki Kovalainen also struggled on his introduction to the top flight with the Enstone outfit, but had neither a world champion team-mate or a potentially front-running car to contend with, both factors which heap added pressure on Piquet's shoulders. As such, Monaco is probably not the best venue to be heading to, its tight confines and forbidding walls both offering ample opportunity to amplify any problems the rookie may have.
