The Piquet name shines on: Nelsinho wins Formula E Championship

Nelson Piquet Jr. (C) with his championship award yesterday

Nelson Piquet Jr, the son of Brazilian Formula One World Champion Nelson Piquet, took the title following the final London-based race this Sunday. Driving for China-based team Nextev, Piquet was leading the championship, but he had his significant lead reduced to a mere 5 points after the e.dams team won the Saturday race. Both father and son were former F1 drivers.

Piquet did not win the Sunday race – that title was taken by Briton Sam Bird, driving for Richard Branson’s Virgin team.

Former Formula One driver Sebastian Buemi, who drives for e.dams, was only a point behind Piquet Jr. in the standings. Buemi finished in 5^th this race behind Mahindra driver Bruno Senna. Had the Swiss Buemi taken 4^th, he would have also taken the championship title.

French driver Stephan Sazzarin, who was driving for the Venturi team, owned by Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio, began the race in pole and crossed the line first, but had to serve a 49-second penalty handed him for exceeding his power allowance. This handed Bird, who was right behind, the victory. The title was not undeserved, however. The 28-year-old Bird put in an extremely strong performance independently, winning the fastest lap award at the race.

Expressing his gratitude for his team, Piquet said that the championship had been “really tough”, and that he had “good guys” backing him, who “trusted and believed in me.”

He jokingly expressed gratitude for Senna, whose 4^th place finish prevented Buemi from taking the title from Piquet.

This sees the end of the inaugural Formula E championships, which were instituted by the FIA to promote motorsport among a new demographic. The single-seater championships also look towards developing electrical automotive technology.