Nelson Piquet arrived in European motor sports in 1978, quickly eclipsing Jackie Stewart's record for most wins in a single British Formula 3 season. This rapid ascension marked the start of a fourteen-season career in Formula One, during which the Brazilian driver secured three World Drivers' Championship titles and accumulated twenty-three Grand Prix victories across various competitive teams.
Early Athletic Pursuits
Born in Rio de Janeiro on 17 August 1952, Piquet initially focused on tennis. Encouraged by his father, he trained in the United States and competed in California. Finding the sport lacked sufficient excitement, he shifted his focus to karting at age fourteen. To bypass his father's disapproval, he competed using his mother's maiden name, Piquet, occasionally misspelled as Piket. He became the Brazilian national karting champion in 1971 and 1972 before winning the Formula Vee Brazil championship in 1976.
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Piquet made his Formula One debut in 1978 for Ensign before driving for McLaren and Brabham. By 1979, he established himself as the lead driver at Brabham, a tenure that would last until 1985. Following a runner-up finish in 1980, he secured his first World Drivers' Championship in 1981. After struggling with engine reliability in 1982, he returned to form to win his second title in 1983.
Final Championship Years
In 1986, Piquet joined the Williams team, remaining a title contender until the final round of the season. He earned his third and final World Drivers' Championship in 1987, a season defined by a fractured professional relationship with teammate Nigel Mansell. His later career included stints with Lotus and Benetton, the latter of which yielded three final race wins before he retired from Formula One at the end of 1991.
Post-Racing Ventures
Following his departure from Formula One, Piquet competed in the Indianapolis 500 for two years and participated in various sports car races. He eventually transitioned into business, managing several enterprises within Brazil. His post-racing life has been marked by controversies, specifically regarding the use of homophobic language, which resulted in a temporary ban from the Formula One paddock in 2022. The governing body lifted this restriction in 2024.
Fast facts
- Born: 17 August 1952, Rio de Janeiro
- Formula One World Championships: 1981, 1983, 1987
- Total Formula One Grand Prix wins: 23
- First Formula One season: 1978
- Last Formula One season: 1991
- Nationality: Brazil
- Education: University of Brasília
- Occupations: Racing driver, businessperson
Questions readers ask
How many Formula One world titles did Nelson Piquet win?
He won three World Drivers' Championship titles in 1981, 1983, and 1987.
Which teams did Piquet drive for during his Formula One career?
He competed for Ensign, McLaren, Brabham, Williams, Lotus, and Benetton.
Achievements
- Educated at University of Brasília
- Worked as racing automobile driver, businessperson and Formula One driver
