AS PREDICTED in this column last month underperforming F1 driver Nelson Piquet Jnr has been fired by Renault after failing to pick up any points this season and has hit back by slamming his former boss on his personal website.

The 24-year-old Brazilian criticized his treatment by self-styled playboy and Renault team boss Flavio Briatore and described his time at the Oxford-based squad as the worst period of his career.

On his personal website he wrote: "I have received notice from the Renault F1 team of its intention to stop me from driving for them in the current F1 season. I feel a sense of relief for the end of the worst period of my career, and the possibility that I can now move on and put my career back on the right track and try to recover my reputation of a fast, winning driver."

Referring to his manager and team boss Briatore he slammed the extravagant Italian and said: "I am a team player and there are dozens of people I have worked with in my career who would vouch for my character and talent, except unfortunately the person that has had the most influence on my career in Formula 1.

"The path to F1 was always going to be tricky, and my father and I therefore signed a management contract with Flavio Briatore, who we believed was an excellent option with all the necessary contacts and management skills. Unfortunately, that was when the black period of my career started.

"As a beginner in F1, I could only expect from my team a lot of support and preparation to help me in getting up to the task. Instead, I was relegated as 'someone who drives the other car' with no attention at all.

"In addition, on numerous occasions, 15 minutes before qualifying and races, my manager and team boss (Briatore) would threaten me, telling me if I didn't get a good result, he had another driver ready to put in my place. I have never needed threats before to get results."

Sticking the knife in further Piquet said: "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."

Ouch!

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HAPPIER TIMES - Randy de Puniet insists he will be back on the podium

RANDY'S RACE VOW

MOTOGP racer Randy de Puniet is keeping his fingers crossed he will be fit enough to race later this month after crashing during training.

The LCR Honda rider - who pulled off a surprise podium finish at the British MotoGP race at Donington - has fractured his left ankle and had to undergo surgery to insert a screw.

The Frenchman - was out riding with trainer, and former Motocross World Champion, Yves Demaria, when fell from his machine - is hopeful he will be fit enough to race at Brno later this month.

He said: "Yves and I planned a specific training programme to improve my performance on track this year.

"This programme helped me a lot so far and, though the summer break, I could not stop training for two weeks' time. That's why we went out to make a short motocross training.

"Unfortunately I had a fall and the impact on the ground caused me the fracture of the left ankle.

"I am very disappointed for this inconvenience but training is very important for me to be well fitted on track. I will do my best to race in Brno and I am sure that the Clinica Mobile staff will support me in the best way".

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SACKED SEB SETTLES

OUT - Sebastien Bourdais

SACKED Sebastien Bourdais has said he will not be taking legal action against his former employer Scuderia Toro Rosso after settling out of court.

The 30-year old Frenchman was ousted after the German Grand Prix and replaced by youngster Jaime Alguersuari after a lacklustre season which saw him score just TWO points.

Immediately after he was given the boot a disgruntled Bourdais issued a statement claiming that he had contacted his lawyers and would be pursuing legal action against the Red Bull-owned team.

But this week his manager Nicholas Todt has said an amicable agreement had been reached. He said: "One week after the German Grand Prix, we reached an out-of-court settlement with the team. They knew it would not stand up in court."

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DONINGTON DEFIANT

UNDER-FIRE Donington Park has hired the woman behind Wembley Stadium and the O2 Arena to make sure the circuit is ready to host its first F1 race next summer.

Circuit boss Simon Gillett - who has taken on Jayne McGivern's Red Grouse Properties - has been heavily criticized by motorsport insiders who believe the proposed multi-million pound revamp of the Leicestershire circuit will never happen, with the GP staying at Silverstone.

Defying rumors Donington Park bosses are confident the new appointment will have the East Midlands site ready for next years inaugural GP.

Gillett said: "We have recently appointed Jayne McGivern's company Red Grouse Properties to lead the construction project for the 2010 Formula 1 Grand Prix.

"Jayne is a highly respected businesswoman who is credited with turning around the Wembley project and was heavily involved in the purchasing of the Millenium Dome from the government to convert it into the 02 Arena.

"Her appointment is a further signal of Donington Park's strong commitment to delivering a high quality, fan-friendly Formula 1 event for the next 17 years, for which we hold the contract. Jayne will ensure that all of the new work on site is completed in a timely manner and to the highest standards."

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WINDSOR'S CASH OFFER

USF1 BOSS Peter Windsor has said he has already turned down two lucrative offers from cash-ready drivers who want to pay HIM to drive in the teams' debut season.

Former journalist Windsor - who founded the new US-based squad with American motorsports engineer Ken Anderson - has said he turned down the deal because he wants the quickest driver in the car - not the one with the most money.

He said: "We've been offered well over thee-quarters of our racing budget by two drivers already, neither of whom have raced in Formula One - but both have won races in GP2, both of them have massive sponsorship they can bring us from their home country.

"Ken and I have got to be very strong, look one another in the eye and say, 'no, we are not going to accept that money; we are not going to hire those guys because we're going to remain true to our convictions'."

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AGOSTINI BACK ON TRACK

LEGENDARY Grand Prix racer Giacomo Agostini will make a special appearance at the Brands Hatch round of the British Superbike Championship today.

The multi-winning world champ - who still holds the record for the most race victories in GP history with a total of 122 wins - will be reunited with his MV Agusta for some unique laps of the Grand Prix circuit.

Agostini will ride his iconic machine and alongside fans-favorite Phil Read and TT winner and British Champion Mick Grant will also be lapping the circuit on his 1970's MCN Superbike Kawasaki.

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