Nelson Piquet – A Career Retrospective

By Joe Murphy

The name “Nelson Piquet” is synonymous with Formula 1, with both positive and negative connotations. His real name is actually Nelson Sautomaior and he was born in Brazil in 1952. From a early age, he used his mother’s surname Piquet to hide his early racing adventures from his disapproving parents. Oh how wrong they would prove to be.

The evidence was hard to deny, even for determined parents. By the tender age of 12 he was one of the country’s most promising junior prospects, but of Tennis! However, as disclosed himself, it was only ever cars on the forefront of his mind. Inspired by Emerson Fittipaldi, Piquet began racing in his home of Brazilia.

Very quickly, he was winning championships in karts before gaining in victories in sportscars not long after. Despite this seemingly immediate success, he still failed to win over his parents, who sought to distract him by sending him to university to study philosophy, engineering and management. However, this was to no avail as Nelson failed to complete a single year. He sold his road car to buy a Formula Vee and in 1977 became the Brazilian champion in that category. Finally, his parents were starting to accept that the talents were too hard to deny.

A move to Europe to participate in Formula Three program was also a success. He won 50% of races to become champion. With F1 Teams keeping tabs, there was only one that took the punt. He first acted as an understudy to Niki Lauda in 1979, but when the Austrian veteran walked away from Formula One racing at the end of that season, he became first choice driver at Brabham for 1980. In his debut season, Piquet won three races and finished second to Alan Jones in the championship. In 1981 his upward trajectory continued and, with three more wins and a succession of high finishes in a brilliant Brabham BT49, he became World Champion for the first time.

Whilst his 1982 season didn’t prove to be as positive, it did include his own favourite victory at that year’s Canadian Grand Prix. Throughout the race, an oil radiator subjected his feet to 100 degree temperatures that made him scream with pain. And yet the thrill of victory was always worth it for this driver who once confessed: “Winning is a feeling which you cannot imagine. I sometimes piss my pants on the slowing down lap.”

It was these types of outrageous comments would eventually get him into trouble, though never with the Brabham sqaud, who even created a Fan Club for the legend.

In 1983, Piquet gained three more race wins and eventually bested Renault’s Alain Prost to win his second driving title. Nelson did consider retiring, but Lauda recommended otherwise. In 1987 he added to his collection of titles. Especially impressive considering a huge incident that year that left him with permenant damage. In fact, racing despite injury was a common theme for the Brazilian.

Away from the track, Nelson started to find time to enjoy his hobbies. Swimming, water skiing, watching TV and entertaining all the women. Put it this way, he has lots of children!

A move to Williams to boost his financial profile proved to have its ups and downs. The car was a winner and so were the team’s drivers: Nelson Piquet and Nigel Mansell. The problem was the team mates clashed and in 1986, ultimately cost each other. They were so preoccupied with each other that Alain Prost was allowed to beat them both to the driving title. The Brazilian accused Williams of favouring their British driver and tried to destabilize Mansell by publicly calling him “an uneducated blockhead” and defaming his wife. “Piquet is just a vile man,” Mansell said in response.

The following season, Piquet managed to win his third drivers title.

Failing to add any more titles to his name, a move to Lotus for a couple of seasons at the end of his career proved to be not big special. Finally, he spent two years at Benetton where his career ended. After winning twice in 1990 and once in 1991,he left F1 racing at the age of 40, though he wasn’t yet finished with motorsport as he continued to race in other competitions over that same decade including Indianapolis 500 which nearly ended his life after a terrible accident.

Business ventures throughout the 21st century enabled him to leave motorsport officially. His son entered F1bt could never replicate his father’s success. Although,in fairness, that would have been difficult for Nelson Piquet Jr.

Comments regarding racial profiles and Lewis Hamilton landed Piquet in hot water and brought his name back into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Despite his undeniably controversial comments, his talent was in no doubt. Truly, one of the all time greats. In racing terms, he must be viewed as such.