Nelson Piquet

Nelson Piquet was a three-time Formula 1 World Champion and one of the most naturally gifted and astute racers of his era. The Brazilian took 23 wins, 24 pole positions and 60 podiums across 205 starts, combining devastating speed with a shrewd technical understanding that made him a master of the turbocharged machinery of the 1980s.

Piquet won his first two championships with Brabham in 1981 and 1983, the latter making him the first driver to win a title in a turbocharged car. He moved to Williams in 1986, where his fractious rivalry with team-mate Nigel Mansell split the team and arguably cost both of them the 1986 crown, before Piquet emerged with his third championship in 1987. Renowned for his ability to set up a car and to play a long game over a season, he raced on with Lotus and Benetton, taking his final win at the 1991 Canadian Grand Prix before retiring.

One of Brazil's greatest sporting figures, Piquet helped usher in the modern era of driver professionalism and technical sophistication. His three titles place him among the most successful champions of all time and a defining figure of the turbo age.

Piquet was a thinking driver who paired raw speed with an exceptional feel for car setup and a calculating, championship-focused mindset, conserving equipment and picking his moments rather than chasing glory at every turn. His mastery of turbo-era technology and his ability to develop a car made him a formidable all-round competitor. Three world titles confirm his place among the finest champions Brazil and the sport have produced.