Defiant Piquet says he's telling the truth

Brazilian Nelson Piquet said he was telling the truth and would not be bullied after his former Renault Formula One team accused him and his father of attempted blackmail in a race-fixing controversy.

Piquet issued a defiant statement after the French manufacturer and team principal Flavio Briatore announced criminal proceedings in France against the pair.

The team have been charged by the sport's governing body of fixing last year's Singapore Grand Prix by ordering Piquet to stage a deliberate crash that helped team-mate Fernando Alonso win the race.

If found guilty, Renault could be kicked out of the championship.

"I confirm that I have co-operated fully and honestly with the sport's governing body," the 24-year-old driver, whose father and namesake was a triple Formula One champion, said in his defence.

"Because I am telling the truth I have nothing to fear, whether from the ING Renault Team or Mr Briatore, and whilst I am well aware of the power and influence of those being investigated, and the vast resources at their disposal, I will not be bullied again into making a decision I regret."

Piquet junior was dropped by Renault in August after he had failed to score a point in 10 races.

FIA president Max Mosley said Piquet had been offered immunity from prosecution by the governing body if he told the truth.