Renault confirms Piquet's exit

Piquet also slammed team boss Flavio Briatore for the exit, claiming that he received no support at all from the Italian and that he was constantly threatened with the sack.

The 23-year-old Brazilian said it is "with disappointment" that he was served his noticed to be replaced.

"But, at the same time, I feel a sense of relief for the end of the worst period of my career," he retorted, with reference to Briatore.

He said he received "no attention at all" during his debut season in 2008, and claims that occasionally he would be threatened with the sack "15 minutes before qualifying and races".

Piquet revealed that he was promised equal conditions with Fernando Alonso this season but remained Renault's clear number two, with a performance-based contract "requiring me to score 40 per cent of Fernando Alonso's points" by mid-season.

But Piquet also revealed that in four of the first nine races in 2009, his R29 was a specification behind Alonso's car.

"I always believed that having a manager was being a part of a team and having a partner. 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," the Brazilian said.

Piquet's place in the Renault F1 seat is expected to be taken by Frenchman Romain Grosjean.