Nelson defeats the French
Extraordinary tales from the Motor Sport digital archive
Grand Prix Photo
F1 Retro – November 2009
F1’s canniest customer Nelson Piquet and last of the champion garagistas Brabham pulled off one of the great championship comebacks 40 years ago this month.
Powered by BMW’s monster turbo, Bernie Ecclestone’s merry band had reeled in Alain Prost and Renault to clinch the drivers’ title in Kyalami – after the French marque had already erected billboards congratulating themselves on winning the championship.
As Mike Doodson explains in our November 2009 archive though, it hadn’t been smooth running. After being introduced in 1981, Beemer’s fragile fire-breather was almost immediately paused so Piquet could use the much more reliable Cosworth.
For future success though, the Brazilian knew turbo power was essential. Joy came at Canada ’82 when he brought the car home first ahead of Patrese – with the radiator burning his feet: “No way was I going to let him win.”
The following season, the Brazilian took a turbo title – despite the boost switch falling off during the South Africa race, Piquet characteristically quipping, “I nearly lost the championship because I lost my knob.”
That era is fondly remembered by the former Brabham man: “Lots of downforce, turbo engines with 1500hp, qualifying tyres good for maybe two laps. I loved it!”
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