I think he has had equal equipment (though I suspect he isn't as friendly with the likes of Briatore) (though Renault fans may know more), and that what happened at the German Grand Prix was pretty similar to the McLaren situation, whereby there was only one set of new parts just rushed in, and the team (rightly) put them on Alonso's car.
Yeah it is the same case as Mclaren. It was a quick bolt-on job from the Renault boys.
If you recall the same happened in Bahrain when Renault rushed out a interim double diffuser. There was only one and obviously it was given to Alonso.
Piquet has had his chances, at the tail end of last season he had arguably the third fastest car in the field, but could not use it like Alonso did. I know he had a good solid drive in Japan and I thought he was very strong on that day, but he was no where near Alonso in Brazil or China.
I know it has been hard for him, and I realise the Renault environment isn't exactly as favourable towards him. But Piquet has been given alot of chances, and he is generally liked by the backroom staff. Even Flavio has sympathy for him and alot of that is based on what he shown he could do in lower formula. Why else would Renault give him a repreave for Hungary?
Piquet hasn't had it easy, up against arguably the best driver in the field. But who are we kidding? He was never signed to beat Alonso, if he did it would merely be a bonus. He was signed to shadow the guy and mature in a top team, ready to one day himself challenge for wins etc. He just hasn't done that. In terms of pure laptime he has never beens miles away from his team mate, but he's failed to do that lap after lap in a Grand Prix. Racing is far different from driving.
I don't know how Grojean or Di Grassi might do up against Alonso. I do, for Renault's sake and my own, hope that they actually build on the promise which they, like Piquet, show.
But it was close. thats what I said.
- By darwin dali