In 1979, Nelson Piquet competed in his first full season in F1 with Brabham team, alongside double world champion, Niki Lauda.
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Nelson Piquet Souto Maior, known as Nelson Piquet, is a Brazilian former racing driver and businessman born on 17 August 1952 in Rio de Janeiro, then the capital of Brazil. He is the son of Estácio Gonçalves Souto Maior, a physician. His father wanted Piquet to be a professional tennis player and was given a scholarship at a school 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.
Piquet made his Formula One debut for Ensign in Germany, starting 21st only to retire on lap 31 with a broken engine. After the race, Piquet drove a McLaren of BS Fabrications in the next three races, where he left good impressions. His best finish was ninth in Italy. For the last race in 1978, Piquet moved to the Brabham team; he qualified in 14th and finished 11th. Piquet stayed with Brabham until 1985. In 1979, Piquet competed in his first full season in Formula One. He once again drove for the Brabham team, alongside double world champion, Niki Lauda.
The Brazilian driver is married to Brazilian Vivianne de Souza Leão and they have two children, Pedro Estacio Piquet and Marco Piquet. Piquet’s first marriage was with Brazilian Maria Clara in 1976 and lasted one year. They have one son, Geraldo Piquet. His second marriage to the Dutchwoman Sylvia Tamsma they produced three children, Nelson Angelo Piquet, Kelly Piquet and Julia Piquet. Laszlo Piquet was born in 1987, but his mother is Katherine Valentin (Piquet’s girlfriend while he was temporarily separated from Sylvia).
Read more: Niki Lauda
Vivanne was born in Goiânia Brazil, having lived in Brazil for 45 years. Their family came to start a new life in the federal capital when she was one year old. She studied business administration at Ceub, but didn’t finish it, because she accepted a job at an advertising agency. Vivanne tried to reconcile the two, but she couldn’t. She couldn’t pass up the opportunity to work in the area she liked. The couple have two children together, elder son Pedro Estacio Piquet born 1998 and younger son Marco Piquet born 2000.
