ISTANBUL // Burdened by the exploits of a famous father, it has been a frustrating two years in Formula One for Nelson Piquet Jnr.
Hopes were high when the son of the three-time former world champion Nelson Piquet made his debut in the sport in March 2008 for Renault.
But it has been a rough ride for the Brazilian, who is already fighting to salvage his career having failed to score a point this season with a best finish of 10th in Bahrain, and rumours continue to abound that he may be replaced by third driver Romain Grosjean if performances don't improve as he struggles to match up to teammate Fernando Alonso.
Piquet Jnr remains unmoved and upbeat about tomorrow's Turkish Grand Prix and mentions Jenson Button, the runaway world championship leader, as an example of how fortunes can change quickly.
After struggling last year and scoring only three points, the Brawn GP driver is going for a sixth win in just seven races this season in Istanbul.
"I am not here because of the name," says Piquet Jnr, who scored 19 points and finished 12th in last year's championship. "It has been a difficult season, I know that. I didn't imagine coming to the seventh race without any points. Criticism is going to be around my whole life so it's nothing that bothers me; it won't make me go quicker or slower.
"There are plenty of other drivers hitting the door wanting to come in so it's normal for a team to put pressure on the driver. But I put the pressure on myself.
"Drivers don't dream of just being in Formula One, drivers dream of winning.
"We always want to fight and always to be at the front. Every category in my life, in karting, Formula 3, GP 2, everything, I have been quick and winning. Honestly, this is not enjoyable right now.
"Formula One is enjoyable when you win races, when you are at the front like Jenson is this year. I am sure when he was going through last year he didn't enjoy it at all.
"He was sitting there doing his job, but I am sure it was the most frustrating year in his life.
"That kind of change can happen to anybody. I am sure my day will arrive when I get more comfortable, get more experience and Renault progress into a better shape or I get into a car that is quicker."
Piquet Jnr admits he is learning with every moment and, with talk of a breakaway championship following the budget cap row, he believes nothing can replace the magic of Formula One.
He adds: "Formula One is a whole different world. Even with a budget cap for the teams, it's going to be a different level.
"I want to be part of this obviously. It's the top of motorsport and there's nothing else tougher than this. It's what I fought my whole life for to get here and winning races must be the most amazing feeling ever. I want that."
akhan@thenational.ae
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Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
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Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Read more about the coronavirus
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
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Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Atalanta v Juventus (6pm)
AC Milan v Napoli (9pm)
Torino v Inter Milan (11.45pm)
Sunday
Bologna v Parma (3.30pm)
Sassuolo v Lazio (6pm)
Roma v Brescia (6pm)
Verona v Fiorentina (6pm)
Sampdoria v Udinese (9pm)
Lecce v Cagliari (11.45pm)
Monday
SPAL v Genoa (11.45pm)
Teams
Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan
Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
Timeline October 25: Around 120 players to be entered into a draft, to be held in Dubai; December 21: Matches start; December 24: Finals
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
