Montoya, the Colombian and former race winner for McLaren and Williams, says 22-year-old Piquet - a Brazilian who was actually born in Germany - faces a tough task at Renault alongside double world champion Fernando Alonso.

"Piquet is a fast driver, but he doesn't have a lot of experience and he will be in Alonso's shadow," the NASCAR driver told the Spanish news agency EFE.

"That, I think, will be his biggest problem. He will have to find a way to overcome these obstacles," Montoya added.

Late last year, McLaren boss Ron Dennis branded Montoya "a fool" for leaving formula one in the midst of a problematic 2006 season.

The 32-year-old now replies: "People in Europe think that formula one is the only thing. They're wrong, because NASCAR races are much tougher, and more fun."

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