Pedro Piquet keen to follow in father’s F1 footsteps

Pedro Piquet, the son of three-time world champion Nelson, is keen to utilise his father’s “fantastic knowledge” to reach Formula One.

A two-time Brazilian F3 champion, the 17-year-old is currently competing in New Zealand’s Toyota Racing Series – a hotly contested winter category where single-seaters hopefuls come to prepare their European season. Piquet Sr was in attendance over the first three rounds, offering valuable support to his son.

“Whenever he's with me he's giving me advice, he wants to help a lot, but also lets me figure things out on my own, too,” Pedro told Stuff.co.nz.

“But he has fantastic knowledge and is passing that on to me. I need to listen because he's the best example I could have. I couldn't hire anyone better so I take his advice seriously.”

Should he make it into F1, Pedro would not only emulate his father but also his older brother Nelson Piquet Jr who raced at Renault from 2008 to mid-2009. And the teenager already has his career plan carefully mapped out.

“Every driver here in this series, if they have the budget, they will try to take the steps to get to Formula One, and that's what we're going to do.

“We'll do Formula 3 for one or two years and then see what's next, GP2, or Formula Renault. But Formula One is the goal.”

Nelson Piquet's F1 career spanned 13 years (1978-1991) and produced 23 race wins, 60 podiums, 24 pole positions, and three titles at Brabham (1981/1983) and Williams (1987).

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