Who Is Nelson Piquet? Age, Biography and Wiki
Nelson Piquet, born on August 17, 1952, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is a retired Brazilian racing driver famous for his remarkable career in Formula One and his influence in motorsports. With three Formula One World Championships to his name, Piquet is known for his technical skill and tactical acumen on the track. As of 2025, Piquet is 72 years old, and he remains a significant figure in the racing world, both as a competitor and as an inspirational icon for aspiring racers.
| Occupation | Business |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | |
| Age | 73 Years |
| Birth Place | N/A |
| Horoscope | |
| Country | Brazil |
Popularity
Nelson Piquet's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Nelson Piquet stands at approximately 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm) tall and weighs around 160 lbs (73 kg). His athletic build contributed to his agility and performance during his peak racing years. Though retired from competitive driving, Piquet maintains a fit physique, which reflects his dedication to health and wellness.
After a third place in the United States Grand Prix West, Piquet qualified on pole position in his home race, the Brazilian Grand Prix in his birth city of Rio de Janeiro, but quickly faded from contention after starting the race on slick tyres on a soaking wet track.
At the next race, the Argentine Grand Prix in Buenos Aires, Brabham got around the ground-clearance rule by devising a suspension system that kept the car at the required height during technical inspection but lowered it onto the ground at speed, allowing it to race once again as a wing car.
The superiority of the car was such that Piquet easily swept to victory and even his less experienced Mexican teammate Héctor Rebaque, who could usually be found well down the order, managed to retain second place until he was forced to retire.
At the San Marino Grand Prix, almost all the teams adopted the innovation brought to Argentina by Brabham. Piquet won the race despite being caught out by rain.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Piquet has had a fascinating personal life, characterized by relationships with various notable figures. He was previously married to his first wife, literarily titled, and has children with her. Furthermore, Piquet has been linked to other high-profile relationships over the years, including his partnership with Brazilian beauty and model Miá Mello. As of 2025, information regarding his current dating status remains private, though he is known to value his family and keeps close contact with his children.
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 Brazil 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.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Nelson Piquet's net worth is estimated to be around $100 million. His wealth derives from his successful Formula One career, various endorsement deals, and investments in the motorsport industry. In addition to his driving accolades, Piquet has also been involved in business ventures that further enhance his financial standing.
However, Piquet was becoming frustrated. He felt as if his loyalty to Brabham was being taken advantage of - his salary was lower than other drivers despite his success with the team - and he was not being informed of some team decisions.
The switch to Pirelli tyres had been particularly upsetting: he felt it had been done purely for financial reasons and placed inordinate commitments on him for tyre testing.
He was also concerned about financial security when he retired, citing the difficulties faced by Brazilian footballers Pelé and Garrincha after their professional careers ended. However, he was well integrated with the team and enjoyed close relationships with Gordon Murray and his mechanics, making him reluctant to leave.
Career, Business and Investments
Piquet's illustrious racing career began in the late 1970s, winning his first World Championship in 1981. He went on to secure consecutive titles in 1983 and 1987, establishing himself as one of the sport's greats. Post-retirement, Piquet made shrewd investments in motorsport teams and related businesses, which has contributed to his substantial net worth. His strategic mind, honed on the racetrack, has served him well in business, allowing him to sustain a successful career beyond competitive racing.
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.
Piquet has faced several controversies since the 1980s—predominantly for his use of homophobic language—and was banned from the Formula One paddock in 2022. The ban was lifted in 2024.
Social Network
Nelson Piquet maintains a presence on various social media platforms, where he shares insights into his life, career, and racing events. As of 2025, he has a considerable following on Instagram and Twitter, where he engages with fans and shares his thoughts on the latest in motorsport. His posts often reflect not just his racing past but also his continued passion for the sport.
A move in to Williams saw Piquet becoming the teammate of one of his fiercest rivals, Nigel Mansell. It was reported that Honda were paying the bulk of his US$3.3 million contract.
When Piquet had signed for Williams at 1985 Austrian Grand Prix, Piquet did not regard Mansell as a serious threat, as the Briton had not won a race yet in his fifth year in Formula One (and would win his first race a month later).
Piquet had underestimated Mansell, and the Englishman came out of 1985 on a confidence high after winning 2 of the last 3 races in 1985. Both were regarded as high-strung characters with delicate temperaments, and two top drivers in the same team was a recipe for fireworks – and sure enough Mansell and Piquet went head to head for the title.
Piquet had wanted to play the role as the number one driver. According to Piquet, the verbal agreement with Frank Williams on this point was clear, and Williams's comment that in signing Piquet he had "signed the best driver in the world" seemed to back that up.
However, shortly before the beginning of the season, Frank Williams suffered a serious car accident that kept him away from the team for a long time and caused a permanent physical disability. The team was then led by technical director Patrick Head, who was also Mansell's race engineer.
Education
Piquet's education in engineering and his technical knowledge played a crucial role in his approach to racing. He combined this with practical experience, which allowed him to excel in understanding vehicle dynamics and race strategies. While he did not pursue a formal education necessarily aligned with his racing career, his lifelong learning has been evident through his successes on the track.
Alongside Formula One, Piquet took part in the 1000km Nürburgring in 1980 and 1981 driving a BMW M1. He won the 1981 race alongside the German Hans-Joachim Stuck. However, the race had to be stopped roughly two hours in because of the fatal crash of Herbert Müller after 17 laps of the 14-mile (23 km) course.
