Nelson Piquet

Formula One - Lotus

Piquet made a big mistake signing for Lotus. Even with a Honda V6 turbo engine, Nelson found the Lotus 100T hopelessly uncompetitive as compared with the world-beating McLaren MP4/4. It was the first season since 1980 that he did not win a single race. Nelson finished his first season in Lotus only in sixth place with 22 points.

1988
Pos.	GP	Circuit	Entrant	Chassis engine	Comment	Qual pos/ent
3	Brazil	Rio	Camel Team Lotus Honda	Lotus 100T Honda RA166E V6 tc	-	5/31
3	San Marino	Imola	Camel Team Lotus Honda	Lotus 100T Honda RA166E V6 tc	+1 lap	3/31
ret	Monaco	Monte Carlo	Camel Team Lotus Honda	Lotus 100T Honda RA166E V6 tc	accident	11/30
ret	Mexico	Mexico	Camel Team Lotus Honda	Lotus 100T Honda RA166E V6 tc	engine	4/30
4	Canada	Montreal	Camel Team Lotus Honda	Lotus 100T Honda RA166E V6 tc	+1 lap	6/31
ret	USA	Detroit	Camel Team Lotus Honda	Lotus 100T Honda RA166E V6 tc	spin-off	8/31
5	France	Paul Ricard	Camel Team Lotus Honda	Lotus 100T Honda RA166E V6 tc	+1 lap	7/31
5	Britain	Silverstone	Camel Team Lotus Honda	Lotus 100T Honda RA166E V6 tc	-	7/31
ret	Germany	Hockenheim	Camel Team Lotus Honda	Lotus 100T Honda RA166E V6 tc	spin-off dry tyres	5/31
8	Hungary	Hungaroring	Camel Team Lotus Honda	Lotus 100T Honda RA166E V6 tc	accident with Martini	13/31
4	Belgium	Spa	Camel Team Lotus Honda	Lotus 100T Honda RA166E V6 tc	DQ	9/31
ret	Italy	Monza	Camel Team Lotus Honda	Lotus 100T Honda RA166E V6 tc	clutch	7/31
ret	Portugal	Estoril	Camel Team Lotus Honda	Lotus 100T Honda RA166E V6 tc	clutch	8/31
8	Spain	Jerez	Camel Team Lotus Honda	Lotus 100T Honda RA166E V6 tc	-	9/31
ret	Japan	Suzuka	Camel Team Lotus Honda	Lotus 100T Honda RA166E V6 tc	phisical	5/31
3	Australia	Adelaida	Camel Team Lotus Honda	Lotus 100T Honda RA166E V6 tc	-	5/31

Formula One - Lotus

In 1989 Piquet still with Lotus and things went from bad to worse. There were no podium finishes and Nelson even had to suffer the indignity of failing to qualify for the Grand Prix of Belgium. It seems his motivation was called into question. In 1989 Nelson finished in 8th place with 12 points.

1989
Pos.	GP	Circuit	Entrant	Chassis engine	Comment	Qual pos/ent
ret	Brazil	Rio	Camel Team Lotus	Lotus 101 Judd CV V8	fuel pump	9/38
ret	San Marino	Imola	Camel Team Lotus	Lotus 101 Judd CV V8	engine	8/38
ret	Monaco	Monte Carlo	Camel Team Lotus	Lotus 101 Judd Cv V8	accident with de Cezaris	19/38
11	Mexico	Mexico	Camel Team Lotus	Lotus 101 Judd Cv V8	+1 lap	26/39
ret	USA	Phoenix	Camel Team Lotus	Lotus 101 Judd CV V8	spin-off	22/39
4	Canada	Montreal	Camel Team Lotus	Lotus 101 Judd CV V8	-	19/39
8	France	Paul Ricard	Camel Team Lotus	Lotus 101 Judd CV V8	+2 laps	20/39
4	Britain	Silverstone	Camel Team Lotus	Lotus 101 Judd CV V8	-	10/39
5	Germany	Hockenheim	Camel Team Lotus	Lotus 101 Judd CV V8	+1 lap	8/39
6	Hungary	Hungaroring	Camel Team Lotus	Lotus 101 Judd CV V8	-	17/39
DNQ	Belgium	Spa	Camel Team Lotus	Lotus 101 Judd CV V8	-	28/39
ret	Italy	Monza	Camel Team Lotus	Lotus 101 Judd CV V8	spin-off	11/39
ret	Portugal	Estoril	Camel Team Lotus	Lotus 101 Judd CV V8	accident with Caffi	20/39
8	Spain	Jerez	Camel Team Lotus	Lotus 101 Judd CV V8	+2 laps	7/38
4	Japan	Suzuka	Camel Team Lotus	Lotus 101 Judd CV V8	DQ	11/39
ret	Australia	Adelaida	Camel Team Lotus	Lotus 101 Judd CV V8	accident with Ghinzani	18/39