Q & A with Nelson Piquet Jr
Q: 'Nelson Piquet, GP2 race winner'. How does it feel?

Nelson Piquet Jr: It feels great, a big relief to finally do what we've waited a long, long time to do. It's really what we've all dreamed about - to get a win this season. To tell the truth I didn't think we were going to get a win this year, because we were a step or two behind already, but it just worked out brilliantly and the team did a great job. We did what the leaders did early in the race, and then we pitted early, and it just worked.
Q: What do you put the win down to - your speed, the strategy, or something else?
Piquet: I think, first of all, I did a really good race - I many very few mistakes, and I had a good car. I don't know why we were so much faster than everyone on the circuit, but the car was a bit better than the others. Even in Eau Rouge - I don't know if I had a better car, but I could follow guys, get a tow and overtake them. It just worked out perfectly.
Q: The conditions looked very tricky today - how was it inside the car?
Piquet: I was quite nervous because all the time we had a pace car, and I didn't know if I had to come in, stay out, what was the best decision. So I just decided to follow the leader and see what he does, and there were so many cars in front us, and I was scared that the rain would come and we'd have to come in again and we would lose the race, but everything worked out. I pushed very hard, managed to overtake a lot of cars, and did it.
Q: You came out on dry tyres, Viso came out on wets - which was the better call?
Piquet: I think both were quite similar - the wets were right on the edge to continue racing the way it was, and maybe the rain was right on the edge of not destroying the tyres - it was fifty-fifty. I just wasn't quicker because I was in traffic, but once I got some space in front of me I was driving clearly and good.
Q: How important is this first win for the team?
Piquet: It's very important - I think the whole team was waiting for it. It's like every driver and every team wants to get that first win, because it's more clear for you and you think you can do it again.
Q: The incident with Alex Premat - what happened from your point of view?
Piquet: I braked a bit hard - everyone was braking, and we were coming from sixth gear to first gear - I locked up a little and unfortunately I touched him, and these things happen sometimes. It was wet, and I was on slicks.
Q: You start in eighteenth tomorrow as a result - can you do anything from there?
Piquet: If it's raining, and there's a lot of mess on the first lap, then my goal is to score points - we'll see.
Latest news
What racing in Australia means for the future of F1's junior series
The announcement that FIA Formula 2 and 3 would race alongside the Australian Grand Prix from 2023 came as a surprise, not only to fans but to the series’ teams too. But with Formula 1’s boom in popularity bringing more fans to the championships, team principals are relishing the opportunity
The other Doohan charting his way to motorsport success
Heading into FIA Formula 2 this season, there was a lot of pressure on Jack Doohan. The 2021 F3 runner-up joined a new team for his next challenge, as well as signing up to the Alpine Academy. He told Autosport how he’s tackling the step up - with some help from his motorcycle legend father
The Brazilian F2 driver hoping to return his country to motorsport's top tier
With a chaotic but “pretty much perfect” FIA Formula 2 weekend in Saudi Arabia behind him, Felipe Drugovich now leads the drivers’ standings in his third crack at the series. The Brazilian driver explains how he's improved amid some difficult years, and shares his dreams of ending his nation's absence from the F1 grid
The Red Bull junior aiming to emulate Piastri in F2
Norwegian talent Dennis Hauger has a tough act to follow in Oscar Piastri’s footsteps on his graduation to F2 as the reigning F3 champion with Prema. Here’s what he makes of the task ahead of him
The other Mercedes F1 young gun facing a big 2022
With a disappointing 2021 season behind him, Frederik Vesti makes the move up to FIA Formula 2 with a reinvigorated sense of determination. Could this finally be the breakthrough year for the talented Mercedes junior?
Ranking the 10 best drivers of an F1 junior series stalwart
DAMS has been one of the most prolific teams below Formula 1 since its foundation in 1989, launching 32 drivers into grand prix racing. Following the team's sale to ex-F1 racer Charles Pic, formally closing the book on the ownership of the Driot family, Autosport picks out its 10 best drivers during their spell with the team
How an F2 enigma hopes ‘coming home’ can reopen doors to F1
After a disappointing 2021, Marcus Armstrong is returning to FIA Formula 2 for another shot at the title in 2022 with Hitech – this time without the backing of Ferrari. This year, he says, he’s ready to give it his all in a last-shot bid to reach Formula 1
The hardships that haven’t dented an F2 rookie’s American F1 dream
Faced with no options for 2021, Logan Sargeant’s Formula 1 dreams looked set to crumble. But a last-minute Formula 3 seat and a strong season secured him an F1 junior berth and a Formula 2 drive for 2022. He told Autosport how his transformative season has affected both his personality and his future