From GMM

Nelson Piquet Snr has threatened legal action against Renault if the French carmaker does not apologise.

Earlier this year, the former triple world champion's son was fired by Flavio Briatore, before the team's boss was ousted amid the crash-gate scandal and banned for life from involvement in motor racing.

Until the flamboyant Italian's star began to fade, Renault towed the line and even backed Briatore's decision to pursue legal action against the Piquet family.

According to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, Piquet Snr now wants a public apology.

"Renault has two weeks," said the Brazilian. "If I hear nothing, there will be a complaint."

Piquet admits his son, who was not formally penalised amid the scandal due to an FIA immunity deal, acted wrongly in deliberately crashing during the 2008 Singapore grand prix.

But he said he does not understand the hysteria about 23-year-old Piquet Jr's actions.

"Ayrton Senna won two championships like that," said Piquet Snr. "In 1983 the F3 championship against Martin Brundle, and in 1990 he was world champion after pushing Alain Prost off the circuit completely deliberately."