renault singed piquet to a one-year contract for the season. his first race, in 2009 at australia ended on lap 24 with brake failure. china was another disappointment. he spun several times, requiring two new nose cones for his car. he finished 16th and last, two laps down, in what team manager flavio briatore described as a "very, very bad race". his best race of the year was a tenth-place finish at bahrain.