The 2014–15 Formula E championship title marked a significant milestone for Nelson Piquet Jr., the son of three-time Formula One world champion Nelson Piquet. Born in Heidelberg in 1985, Piquet developed his racing craft through a diverse international career spanning Brazilian karting, British Formula 3, the GP2 Series, and the competitive theater of Formula One.
Early Development and Junior Categories
Piquet began his racing life in 1993 within the Brazilian karting circuit, remaining there until 2001. He transitioned to Formula Three Sudamericana, securing the championship in 2002. Moving to the United Kingdom in 2003, he founded the Piquet Sports team and competed in the British Formula 3 Championship, finishing third overall. He subsequently won the 2004 British Formula 3 title at age nineteen, becoming the youngest driver to achieve that feat. By 2006, he had advanced to the GP2 Series, concluding the season in second place behind Lewis Hamilton.
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After serving as a test and reserve driver for the Renault Formula One team during the 2007 season, Piquet earned a race seat alongside Fernando Alonso for 2008. His time at Renault was characterized by inconsistent performance and mounting pressure from the team management. In 2009, he struggled to pass the initial qualifying sessions and was released midway through the season. It later emerged that Piquet had deliberately crashed his car at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix under instructions from senior Renault personnel to benefit his teammate's race strategy, an incident that remains a major scandal in motorsport.
Current Professional Engagements
Following his Formula One exit, Piquet expanded his participation across several racing disciplines. He finished seventh in the 2012 NASCAR Truck Series and fourth in the 2014 Global RallyCross Championship. In the contemporary landscape, he continues to race in the Brazilian Stock Car Pro Series, driving the No. 33 Toyota Corolla E210 for Motul TMG Racing. Additionally, he competes in the European Le Mans Series, operating an ORECA 07 for Team Virage within the LMP2 Pro/Am class.
Fast facts
- Born: 1985, Heidelberg
- Citizenship: Brazil
- 2014–15 Formula E Champion
- 2004 British Formula 3 Champion
- Formula One team: Renault (2008–2009)
- Spouse: Patsy Zurita
- Current car: No. 33 Toyota Corolla E210
Questions readers ask
Did Nelson Piquet Jr. win a world championship?
He won the Formula E championship during the 2014–15 season.
Which team did he drive for in Formula One?
He was a test driver for Renault in 2007 and a race driver for the same team from 2008 until his departure in 2009.
Achievements
- Represented Prost-Piquet-Heidfeld
- Competed at 24 Hours of Le Mans, Formula E and 2006 GP2 Series season
- Discipline: auto racing
