Formula One news

Piquet needs confidence - Symonds

Renault engineering director Pay Symonds says Nelson Piquet Jr can stil impress this season, despite a difficult start to the year in which he has failed to match or keep pace with team mate Alonso.

Symonds' words of encouragement come amid growing speculation that Piquet will not see out the year at Renault and that the team is growing warmer to the idea of replacing him.

"It's been difficult for Nelson, but he has put in some good drives," Symonds said. "This time last year a lot of people thought Heikki had reached the end of the road and he had an incredible weekend in Canada, because after the crash on Saturday things couldn't really have gone much worse."

"To me it's still a miracle we repaired his car in time to qualify and then he had a great race on Sunday and never looked back," he added. "I've said it before, but a lot about being a driver is about self-esteem and believing in yourself. All Nelson needs to do is believe in himself and it will happen."

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