Brazilian · Rio de Janeiro, Brazil · Born 17 August 1952Brazilian Formula 1 driver who won three World Championships (1981, 1983, 1987) and is considered one of the greatest drivers of the 1980s era.
Nelson Piquet Souto Maior was born on 17 August 1952 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the son of a government official, and spent much of his childhood in Brasília. He began kart racing at 14, initially competing under the pseudonym "Piket" to hide his racing activities from his family, and was crowned Brazilian kart champion in both 1971 and 1972 before his success made the secret impossible to maintain. Piquet won the Brazilian Formula Super Vee championship in 1976 before moving to Britain to race in Formula Three, a move reportedly supported by fellow Brazilian world champion Emerson Fittipaldi. He made his Formula One debut with Ensign at the 1978 German Grand Prix, and his performance impressed Brabham owner Bernie Ecclestone enough to offer him a drive later that season. Piquet won his first World Championship with Brabham in 1981, adding a second in 1983 as the first champion to win using a turbocharged engine, and a third with Williams in 1987, becoming just the fourth driver in the sport's history to win three or more titles, alongside Juan Manuel Fangio, Jack Brabham, and Jackie Stewart. Piquet retired from Formula One in 1991 with 23 Grand Prix wins, and his son, Nelson Piquet Jr., went on to race in Formula One and win the inaugural Formula E championship, continuing the family's motorsport legacy into a new generation.
Three-time Formula 1 World Champion known for his tactical racing approach and fierce rivalry with Nigel Mansell
How They Played
Calculating and tactical driver who maximized car potential through superior racecraft
Lasting Impact
One of Brazil's greatest F1 drivers, pioneering modern race strategy and car setup techniques
Career Honours
- Formula 1 World Drivers' Champion 1981 (Brabham)
- Formula 1 World Drivers' Champion 1983 (Brabham)
- Formula 1 World Drivers' Champion 1987 (Williams)
- Brazilian Formula 3 Champion 1977
- Formula 1 Grand Prix Winner – Argentine Grand Prix 1981
- Formula 1 Grand Prix Winner – San Marino Grand Prix 1980
- Formula 1 Grand Prix Winner – German Grand Prix 1986
- Formula 1 Grand Prix Winner – Hungarian Grand Prix 1986 (first F1 race held in Hungary)
- Formula 1 Grand Prix Winner – Italian Grand Prix 1983
- Formula 1 Grand Prix Winner – Canadian Grand Prix 1982
- Formula 1 Grand Prix Winner – Detroit Grand Prix 1982
- CART Indianapolis 500 Winner 1985 (non-championship achievement)
- Formula 1 All-time Race Wins: 23 Grand Prix victories across career
| Constructor | Season(s) | Races |
|---|---|---|
| Ensign | 1978 | 1 |
| McLaren | 1978 | 3 |
| Brabham | 1978–1985 | 114 |
| Williams | 1986–1987 | 32 |
| Team Lotus | 1988–1989 | 32 |
| Benetton | 1990–1991 | 32 |
| Career Total | — | 214 |
Brazilian Athletes