F3: FIA's Domenicali sorry Piquet couldn't race

While Piquet's presence at Pau would not have gone against any of the championship's sporting regulations, the Commission invoked the rule that allows it discretion to consider the case of any driver who wishes to compete.

Domenicali told Autosport: "I'm sorry for Nelson and sorry for Carlin [which planned to run the reigning Formula E champion and ex-Formula 1 driver], but you have to be clear in your head."

Domenicali stressed that Piquet's participation would have gone against the FIA's plan for the F3 championship to prevent drivers with much too experience competing, which this year resulted in the introduction of a rule banning any competitors from more than three seasons in the series.

"From my side it's quite straightforward," added Domenicali. "When we saw this application, with all respect to what Carlin and Nelson Piquet Jr wanted to do, we felt it was not quite right to open this new scenario.

"Some could say it's good promotion for the series, but we need to continue our project for drivers to grow to be ready for Formula 1.

"It's nothing personal; it's just to be current with the philosophy of the championship. Nothing less, nothing more."

Piquet Jr's father, three-time world champion Nelson Piquet Sr, who is in Pau to support his younger son Pedro, told Autosport: "I don't know why he [Nelson Jr] was coming to race. Really I don't know anything about it."

Originally on Autosport.com