Kubica amazed by Piquet situation

Robert Kubica says he remains shocked by both Nelson Piquet's actions in last year's Singapore Grand Prix and the FIA's decision to give him immunity from punishment in exchange for his evidence - but elsewhere in the paddock opinions about the young Brazilian were mixed.Piquet triggered the FIA investigation into Renault's tactics in Singapore in 2008 when he informed the governing body that his early crash had been deliberately planned to cause a safety car period that would benefit his team-mate Fernando Alonso.Team bosses Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds have both received bans from motorsport for their part in the scandal, but Piquet escaped punishment because of his co-operation - a decision that left Kubica surprised.Normally if you go the police and say you killed someone but you know someone else who killed three people, you will still go to the jail," said the BMW driver."Maybe you will not have the 100 per cent penalty, but you will still end up in problems."But it's complex."The Pole said he was amazed that Piquet agreed to the strategy in the first place."I think you have to be really desperate to do something like this," said Kubica. "I would jump out from the car on the starting grid and I'd say I'm not racing or I feel bad, instead of doing it."He is an experienced driver, he has done a lot of races and I'm very surprised he made that deal."Normally if you are asked to make a favour to your team-mate you are already trying to not do it."Adrian Sutil shared Kubica's bafflement, and said he did not feel that Piquet's explanation of being put under pressure by team boss and manager Briatore was valid."There's no excuse, it doesn't matter how much pressure there is, you should never crash a car into the wall just to say 'I want to make sure I keep my contract for next year' - that's absolutely wrong thinking," he said.Williams' Nico Rosberg understood why Piquet had escaped sanctions, but accepted that it could give the wrong message."Without him, the whole thing wouldn't have come out, so he helped to take these two people who created such an illegal incident out of the sport," said the German."But on the other hand he was just as much involved as they were, so it's a bit of a difficult one."Mark Webber agreed with Rosberg, but felt that while Piquet had not received any official penalty, the damage to his career would be a punishment in itself."It's a very complex situation, I only see what you guys see, and why he should get a big penalty or not is not that easy to comment on," reckoned the Australian."I think enough damage has been done to himself."First of all he got himself in a situation that of course he regrets, that's what he did and that's what he has to live with, and I think it's very difficult for him to come back."Veteran Giancarlo Fisichella reckoned the fact Piquet only blew the whistle on Renault's activities after being sacked was what reflected particularly badly on him."He came out with this problem after one year, when he stopped racing in Formula 1," he said."I don't think it's very professional, but it's not my problem."Lewis Hamilton, who battled Piquet for the GP2 title in 2006, said he still had personal sympathy for his former rival despite the situation."I wish him well, I'm just trying to be positive for him because because I know how tough situations can be, and I'm sure him and his family don't feel so great right now," he said."All I can do is send some positive energy and hope for the best for them."While Piquet could potentially return to F1, Briatore is banned indefinitely, meaning drivers from his management stable - including Webber - will now have to find new representation or look after their own affairs.Webber said Briatore's departure would have little impact on his future, but paid tribute to all the Italian had done for him."I've had Flavio looking after me for 11 years, I've never looked at the contract after the first day I signed it, and there are not many people in this paddock you can do that with," said the Red Bull driver."He's been sensational for me and I won't work with anyone else in the future if I can't work with him."

Date published : 24 Sep 200913:02:19