Acting
Aug 16, 1952
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Nelson Piquet
Acting
Biography
Nelson Piquet Souto Maior (born August 17, 1952) is a Brazilian retired racing driver and businessman who was a three-time Formula 1 World Champion: 1981, 1983, and 1987. He drove in Formula 1 from 1978-1991. Piquet competed in Ensign, BS Frabrications, Brabham, Williams, Lotus and Benetton. He won 23 races, 24 pole positions, 23 fastest laps, 60 podiums and 485.5 points. Piquet had a brief career in tennis before losing interest in the sport and subsequently took up karting and hid his identity to prevent his father discovering his hobby. He became the Brazilian national karting champion in 1971–72 and won the Formula Vee championship in 1976. With advice from Emerson Fittipaldi, Piquet went to Europe to further success by taking the record number of wins in Formula Three in 1978, beating Jackie Stewart's all-time record. In the same year, he made his Formula One debut with the Ensign team and drove for McLaren and Brabham. In 1979, Piquet moved to the Brabham team and finished the runner-up in 1980 before winning the championship in 1981. Piquet in 1982 was hampered by severe engine unreliability, but he saw a resurgence for 1983 and his second world championship. For 1984–85, Piquet had once again lost chances to win the championship but managed to score three wins during that period. He moved to the Williams team in 1986 and was a title contender until the final round in Australia. Piquet took his third and final championship in 1987 during a heated battle with teammate Nigel Mansell which left the pair's relationship sour. Piquet subsequently moved to Lotus for 1988–89 where he experienced his third drop in form. He eventually went to the Benetton team for 1990–91 where he managed to win three races before retiring. After retiring from Formula One, Piquet tried his hand at the Indianapolis 500 for two years. He also had a go at sports car racing at various points during and after his Formula One career. Piquet is currently retired and runs several businesses in Brazil. He also manages his sons Nelson Piquet Jr. and Pedro Piquet, who are also professional racing drivers. Piquet was born 17 August 1952, in Rio de Janeiro, then the capital of Brazil, the son of Estácio Gonçalves Souto Maior (1913–1974), a Brazilian physician. His father moved his family to the new capital, Brasília, in 1960 and became Minister for Health in João Goulart's government (1961–64). Piquet had two brothers, Alexis, and Geraldo, and a sister Genusa. Piquet was the youngest of the children. His father wanted Piquet to be a professional tennis player and was given a scholarship at a school in the United States, in Atlanta. Piquet started playing tennis at the age of 11. He won tournaments in Brazil and eventually took a trip to California to test his skill against tougher American players. During his time, he had learned to speak English and greatly matured. His short tennis career saw Piquet to be prized as a good player but not thought sufficiently exciting for the sport, which led him to devote his career to motor racing. Piquet started kart racing at the age of 14, but because his father did not approve of his racing career, he used his mother's maiden name Piquet (of French origin and pronounced as "Pee-Ké") misspelt as Piket to hide his identity. ... Source: Article "Nelson Piquet" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.
Feature Films (10)
This fascinating record of one season of Grand Prix racing is the first ever FOCA review programme and sets the high standard for which these programmes have since been renowned. From the first green light at West Long Beach the season is charged with controversy. The aerodynamic "skirts" have gone and new hydraulic devices are in place. Carbon fibre bodies appear as the F1 cars get re-invented during the winter months.
1981 FIA Formula One World Championship Season Review
An intimate look at the history of Brazilian drivers from the '70s to the '90s, an era in which Brazil dominated Formula 1 racing, from the colorful point of view of its protagonists, especially Fittipaldi, Piquet and Senna, but without forgetting the drivers who failed to reach the profession's pinnacle, and the many behind-the-scenes helpers.
3 Champions
A brilliant and determined Briton, Nigel Mansell, has a season-long battle, not only against the hard-charging Brazilian Ayrton Senna in the JPS Lotus but also Keke 'Ten-tenths' Rosberg and the reigning World Champion Alain Prost in the Marlboro McLarens as well as his Williams Judd Honda team-mate Nelson Piquet. Features all 16 races accompanied by the sharp wit and informed narrative of TV personality Clive James.
1986 FIA Formula One World Championship Season Review
The remarkable story of Brazilian racing driver Ayrton Senna, charting his physical and spiritual achievements on the track and off, his quest for perfection, and the mythical status he has since attained, is the subject of Senna, a documentary feature that spans the racing legend's years as an F1 driver, from his opening season in 1984 to his untimely death a decade later.
Senna
Television & Series (9)
With unseen archive footage and interviews with the sport's greatest names, this Sky original docuseries celebrates the incredible 70-year history of Formula 1.
Race to Perfection
Ayrton Senna tells his own story. The beginning of his career, the peak in F1, the rivalries, the World Trial and his consecration as the greatest idol of a generation of brazilians.
Senna by Ayrton
A look more intimate, human and minimalist - and consequently less sporty and statistical - for the character Ayrton Senna da Silva (1960 to 1994). A chronology of events and remarkable episodes of the career and personal life of the sportsman, from the testimony of more than 50 interviewed, among pilots, former pilots, Formula 1 professionals, journalists, friends and people who were close to Senna.
