Nelson Piquet - Brabham

Formula One - Brabham

In the last race of the season 1978 Nelson drove a Brabham/Alfa Romeo and Bernie Ecclestone, owner of the Brabham team, signed Nelson.

1978
Pos.	GP	Circuit	Entrant	Chassis engine	Comment	Qual pos/ent
11	Canada	Montreal	Pamalat Racing Team	Brabham BT46 Alfa Romeo 115-12 V12	-	14/28

Formula One - Brabham

Nelson became the team's number one driver and raced all GP of Championship. Piquet finished his first full season in joint 15th place with three points, courtesy of a fourth place a Zandvoort (Grand Prix of Netherland). At the Grand Prix of USA-East Piquet scored his first fastest lap. At the same Grand Prix Nelson started from the first row scored second time in a qualifying session.
In 1979 Nelson scored second place in the Race of Champions (A Formula One Event held at Brands Hatch, and was the traditional opening race of the Formula One season in Britain. The event was dropped after 1979, but made a temporary reappearance in 1983).

1979
Pos.	GP	Circuit	Entrant	Chassis engine	Comment	Qual pos/ent
ret	Argentina	Buenos Aires	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT46 Alfa Romeo 115-12 V12	accident at start	20/26
ret	Brazil	Interlagos	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT48 Alfa Romeo 115-12 V12	accident with Reutemann	22/26
7	South Africa	Kyalami	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT48 Alfa Romeo 115-12 V12	-	12/26
8	USA West	Long Beach	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT48 Alfa Romeo 115-12 V12	-	12/26
ret	Spain	Jarama	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT48 Alfa Romeo 115-12 V12	fuel metering	7/27
ret	Belgium	Zolder	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT48 Alfa Romeo 115-12 V12	engine	3/28
ret	Monaco	Monte Carlo	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT48 Alfa Romeo 115-12 V12	transmission	18/25
ret	France	Dijon	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT48 Alfa Romeo 115-12 V12	spin-off	4/27
ret	Britain	Silverstone	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT48 Alfa Romeo 115-12 V12	spin-off	3/26
ret	Germany	Hockenheim	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT48 Alfa Romeo 115-12 V12	engine	4/26
ret	Austria	Osterreichring	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT48 Alfa Romeo 115-12 V12	engine	7/26
4	Netherland	Zandvoort	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT48 Alfa Romeo 115-12 V12	-	11/26
ret	Italy	Monza	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT48 Alfa Romeo 115-12 V12	accident with Regazzoni	8/28
ret	Canada	Montreal	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT48 Alfa Romeo 115-12 V12	gearbox	4/29
ret	USA	Watkins Glen	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT48 Alfa Romeo 115-12 V12	transmission	2/30

Formula One - Brabham

1980 was second full season of Piquet. In 1980 Nelson scored his first victory at the Grand Prix of United States West on the streets of Long Beach, California. 1980 season would witness his first duel for the World Championship with Alan Jones in the Albilad-Williams Racing Team. Piquet lost the championship to Jones after a long and tough battle. Nelson finished season 1980 in second place with 54 points.

1980
Pos.	GP	Circuit	Entrant	Chassis engine	Comment	Qual pos/ent
2	Argentina	Buenos Aires	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT49 Cosworth DFV V8	-	4/28
ret	Brazil	Interlagos	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT49 Cosworth V8	suspension	9/28
4	South Africa	Kyalami	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT49 Cosworth DFV V8	-	3/28
1	USA West	Long Beach	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT49 Cosworth DFV V8	fastest lap	1/27
ret	Belgium	Zolder	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT49 Cosworth DFV V8	spin-off	7/27
3	Monaco	Monte Carlo	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT49 Cosworth DFV V8	-	4/27
4	France	Paul Ricard	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT49 Cosworth DFV V8	-	8/27
2	Britain	Brands Hatch	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT49 Cosworth V8	-	5/27
4	Germany	Hockenheim	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT49 Cosworth DFV V8	-	6/26
5	Austria	Osterreichring	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT49 Cosworth DFV V8	-	7/25
1	Netherland	Zandvoort	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT49 Cosworth DFV V8	-	5/28
1	Italy	Imola	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT49 Cosworth DFV V8	-	5/28
ret	Canada	Montreal	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT49 Cosworth DFV V8	engine	1/28
ret	USA	Watkins Glen	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT49 Cosworth DFV V8	spin-off	2/27

Formula One - Brabham

In 1981, still with Brabham, Nelson earned his first World Championship crown in a sweltering finale under the scorching Nevada sun in Las Vegas, beating Carlos Reutemann by a single point.

1981 - World Champion
Pos.	GP	Circuit	Entrant	Chassis engine	Comment	Qual pos/ent
3	USA West	Long Beach	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT49C Cosworth DFV V8	-	4/29
12	Brazil	Rio	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT49C Cosworth DFV V8	-	1/30
1	Argentina	Buenos Aires	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT49C Cosworth DFV V8	fastest lap	1/29
1	San Marino	Imola	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT49C Cosworth DFV V8	-	5/30
ret	Belgium	Zolder	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT49C Cosworth DFV V8	accident with Jones	2/31
ret	Monaco	Monte Carlo	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT49C Cosworth DFV V8	spin-off	1/31
ret	Spain	Jarama	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT49C Cosworth DFV V8	accident with Andretti	9/30
3	France	Dijon	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT49C Cosworth DFV V8	-	4/29
ret	Briatain	Silverstone	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT49C Cosworth DFV V8	tyre	3/30
1	Germany	Hockenheim	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT49C Cosworth DFV V8	-	6/30
3	Austria	Osterreichring	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT49C Cosworth DFV V8	-	7/28
2	Netherland	Zandvoort	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT49C Cosworth DFV V8	-	3/30
6	Italy	Monza	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT49C Cosworth DFV V8	engine	6/30
5	Canada	Montreal	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT49C Cosworth DFV V8	-	1/30
5	USA Las Vegas	Caesars Palace	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT49C Cosworth DFV V8	-	4/30

Formula One - Brabham

In 1982 Brabham switched to BMW turbo power, heralding a mechanically troubled year and only a single win for Nelson. He finished 11th with 20 points.

1982
Pos.	GP	Circuit	Entrant	Chassis engine	Comment	Qual pos/ent
ret	South Africa	Kyalami	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT50 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	spin-off	2/30
(1) DQ	Brazil	Rio	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT49D Cosworth DFV V8	fastest lap	7/31
ret	USA West	Long Beach	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT49D Cosworth DFV V8	spin-off	6/31
5	Belgium	Zolder	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT50 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	-	10/32
ret	Monaco	Monte Carlo	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT50 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	gearbox	13/31
DNQ	USA	Detroit	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT50 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	-	28/28
1	Canada	Montreal	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT50 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	-	4/29
2	Netherland	Zandvoort	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT50 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	-	3/31
ret	Briatin	Brands Hatch	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT50 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	fuel metering	3/30
ret	France	Paul Ricard	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT50 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	engine	6/30
ret	Germany	Hockenheim	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT50 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	accident with Salazar	4/30
ret	Austria	Osterreichring	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT50 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	engine/ FL	1/29
4	Switzerland	Dijon	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT50 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	-	6/29
ret	Italy	Monza	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT50 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	clutch	2/30
ret	USA Las Vegas	Caesars Palace	Parmalat Racing Team	Brabham BT50 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	spark plug	12/30

Formula One - Brabham

Nelson continued to drive for Brabham and won his second World Championship. Piquet became the first champion using a turbo engine.

1983 - World Champion
Pos.	GP	Circuit	Entrant	Chassis engine	Comment	Qual pos/ent
1	Brazil	Rio	Fila Sport	Brabham BT52 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	fastest lap	4/27
ret	USA West	Long Beach	Fila Sport	Brabham BT52 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	throttle	20/28
2	France	Paul Ricard	Fila Sport	Brabham BT52 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	-	6/29
ret	San Marino	Imola	Fila Sport	Brabham BT52 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	engine	2/28
2	Monaco	Monte Carlo	Fila Sport	Brabham BT52 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	fastest lap	6/28
4	Belgium	Spa	Fila Sport	Brabham BT52 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	-	4/28
4	USA	Detroit	Fila Sport	Brabham BT52 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	-	2/27
ret	Canada	Montreal	Fila Sport	Brabham BT52 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	throttle	3/28
2	Britain	Silverstone	Fila Sport	Brabham BT52B BMW M12/13 S4 tc	-	6/29
13	Germany	Hockenheim	Fila Sport	Brabham BT52B BMW M12/13 S4 tc	-	4/29
3	Austria	Osterreichring	Fila Sport	Brabham BT52B BMW M12/13 S4 tc	-	4/29
ret	Netherland	Zandvoort	Fila Sport	Brabham BT52B BMW M12/13 S4 tc	accident with Prost	1/29
1	Italy	Monza	Fila Sport	Brabham BT52B BMW M12/13 S4 tc	fastest lap	4/29
1	Europe	Brands Hatch	Fila Sport	Brabham BT52B BMW M12/13 S4 tc	-	4/29
3	South Africa	Kyalami	Fila Sport	Brabham BT52B BMW M12/13 S4 tc	fastest lap	2/26

Formula One - Brabham

In season 1984 Nelson took pole 9 times and he was clearly the fastest driver around but recurring reliability problems with the BMW engine put him out of title. Piquet finished season fifth with 29 points.

1984
Pos.	GP	Circuit	Entrant	Chassis engine	Comment	Qual pos/ent
ret	Brazil	Rio	MRD International	Brabham BT53 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	engine	7/26
ret	South Africa	Kyalami	MRD International	Brabham BT53 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	turbo	1/26
9	Belgium	Zolder	MRD International	Brabham BT53 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	-	9/27
ret	San Marino	Imola	MRD International	Brabham BT53 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	turbo/ FL	1/28
ret	France	Dijon	MRD International	Brabham BT53 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	turbo	3/27
ret	Monaco	Monte Carlo	MRD International	Brabham BT53 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	electric	9/27
1	Canada	Montreal	MRD International	Brabham BT53 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	fastest lap	1/26
1	USA	Detroit	MRD International	Brabham BT53 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	-	1/27
ret	USA	Dallas	MRD International	Brabham BT53 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	throttle/ spin-off	12/27
7	Britain	Brands Hatch	MRD International	Brabham BT53 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	lost boost	1/28
ret	Germany	Hockenheim	MRD International	Brabham BT53 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	gearbox	5/27
2	Austria	Osterreichring	MRD International	Brabham BT53 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	-	1/28
ret	Netherland	Zandvoort	MRD International	Brabham BT53 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	loose oil union	2/27
ret	Italy	Monza	MRD International	Brabham BT53 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	engine	1/27
3	Europe	Nurburgring	MRD International	Brabham BT53 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	fastest lap	1/26
6	Portugal	Estoril	MRD International	Brabham BT53 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	spin-off +1 lap	1/27

Formula One - Brabham

In 1985 the Brabham team had changed their tyre manufacturers to Pirelli and season was a disappointment for Nelson. He scoring a single win in the Grand Prix of France. In 1985 season Piquet finished with only 21 points in 8th place.

1985
Pos.	GP	Circuit	Entrant	Chassis engine	Comment	Qual pos/ent
ret	Brazil	Rio	Motor Racing Developments	Brabham BT54 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	transmission	8/25
ret	Portugal	Estoril	Motor Racing Developments	Brabham BT54 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	tyre	10/26
8	San Marino	Imola	Motor Racing Developments	Brabham BT54 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	out of fuel	9/26
ret	Monaco	Monte Carlo	Motor Racing Developments	Brabham BT54 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	accident with Patrese	13/26
ret	Canada	Montreal	Motor Racing Developments	Brabham BT54 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	transmission	9/25
6	USA	Detroit	Motor Racing Developments	Brabham BT54 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	+1 lap	10/25
1	France	Paul Ricard	Motor Racing Developments	Brabham BT54 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	-	5/26
4	British	Silverstone	Motor Racing Developments	Brabham BT54 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	+1 lap	2/26
ret	Germany	Nurburgring	Motor Racing Developments	Brabham BT54 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	turbo	6/27
ret	Austria	Osterreichring	Motor Racing Developments	Brabham BT54 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	exhaust	5/27
8	Netherland	Zandvoort	Motor Racing Developments	Brabham BT54 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	stalled on grid	1/27
2	Italy	Monza	Motor Racing Developments	Brabham BT54 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	-	4/26
5	Belgium	Spa	Motor Racing Developments	Brabham BT54 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	+1 lap	3/24
ret	Europe	Brands Hatch	Motor Racing Developments	Brabham BT54 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	accident with Rosberg	2/27
ret	South Africa	Kyalami	Motor Racing Developments	Brabham BT54 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	engine	2/21
ret	Australia	Adelaida	Motor Racing Developments	Brabham BT54 BMW M12/13 S4 tc	electric	9/25