Piquet dropped by Renault

Nelson Piquet delivered a furious parting shot to Renault boss Flavio Briatore yesterday after discovering he was being dropped by the Renault team.

Piquet described Briatore, his manager as well as the team boss, as his "executioner" as he announced he would no longer be driving for Renault in the 2009 season.

"I have received notice from the Renault F1 team of its intention to stop me from driving for them in the current F1 season," Piquet said in a statement.

"A manager is supposed to encourage you, support you, and provide you with opportunities. In my case it was the opposite. Flavio Briatore was my executioner," Piquet said of Briatore.

The 24-year-old, son of triple world champion Nelson Piquet, had not scored a point all season.

Piquet said in his statement that in his 2008 debut season, racing alongside team-mate and double world champion Fernando Alonso, he was relegated as "someone who drives the other car".

The Brazilian said that circumstances did not improve this season despite promises by Briatore for "at least equal treatment".