GP2 Series runner-up, and 2007 Renault test driver, Nelson Piquet junior, has admitted that he is fully focussed on taking Giancarlo Fisichella's race seat in 2008.

Talking to Reuters, the Brazilian youngster admitted that he is hoping that the Italian driver will retire at the end of 2007, thus leaving the second seat, alongside Heikki Kovalainen, up for grabs.

"Fisichella may retire in 2008 and if everything goes right, I should replace him," said Piquet. "As they are investing in Kovalainen now, probably it's Fisichella who is going to stop because of age."

The youngster, who has many in the business wondering if he's style over substance, and is already gaining a reputation as being a superstar - at least in his own mind - is convinced that team boss Flavio Briatore is 'in his corner', indeed he reveals that the Italian is his manager.

"Briatore and I are partners," he admitted. "He helped me negotiate my entry in Formula One and has a share in everything we achieve together. He had an interest, and I needed someone who was involved, because I'm too young and my father doesn't have time for that. He is also the director of Renault, and said that he wanted to get me to drive"

Although he doesn't officially begin work as a test driver for the French team until 2007, he has already completed a couple of tests, including being the sole runner at Silverstone last week where, despite one minor off, he gave a good account of himself.

"It's a beginning, there's a lot to do, to know," he admitted.