Nelson Piquet Jr.

Nelson Angelo Tamsma Piquet Souto Maior (25 July 1985 - Present): Brazilian-Dutch racing driver who competed in 28 Formula One Grands Prix between 2008 and 2009, best known for his involvement in the "Crashgate" scandal that ended his F1 career and became one of motorsport's most controversial episodes. Born in Heidelberg, West Germany, as the son of three-time Formula One World Champion Nelson Piquet, he grew up under immense pressure and expectation. He began racing in karting in 1993 and progressed through Formula Three Sudamericana before moving to Europe. Piquet Jr.

won the 2004 British Formula 3 Championship at age 19, becoming the youngest champion in the series' history. He then competed in GP2, finishing runner-up to Lewis Hamilton in 2006 with four wins. Renault signed him as test driver for 2007, promoting him to the race seat alongside Fernando Alonso for 2008. His rookie season showed flashes of promise: he scored his first points with seventh at the 2008 French Grand Prix and achieved his only F1 podium with second place at the German Grand Prix following a clever one-stop strategy.

However, he struggled to match Alonso's pace and faced intense criticism. Renault dropped him mid-season in 2009, replacing him with Romain Grosjean. Shortly after, Piquet Jr. revealed to the FIA that Renault team principal Flavio Briatore and engineering director Pat Symonds had ordered him to deliberately crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix to trigger a safety car that would benefit Alonso's race strategy.

Alonso won that race following the controversial incident. The FIA banned Briatore indefinitely and Symonds for five years, while Piquet Jr. received immunity for whistleblowing. The scandal destroyed his F1 career, as no team would hire him afterward. He subsequently competed in NASCAR and then found success in Formula E, winning the inaugural 2014-15 championship. Piquet Jr.

won a libel case against Renault in 2010, receiving damages and an apology. His F1 career remains a cautionary tale of team manipulation and the pressures faced by drivers competing in their famous fathers' shadows. Known for: The Crashgate scandal at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, achieving a podium finish at the 2008 German Grand Prix, winning the inaugural Formula E championship in 2014-15, and being the son of three-time World Champion Nelson Piquet.