A couple of days before the most glamorous Grand Prix of the year in Monaco, ING Renault F1 Team driver Nelson Piquet opens the doors to his home and takes us for a tour of some of the places he hangs out in the principality.
The life of a Formula 1 driver is a non-stop schedule of travelling and racing, living out of a suitcase and dashing from one country to the next. When they do get a few days spare, it’s important to have their own space – a sanctuary where they can relax and recharge their batteries. For Nelson, that place is Monaco, it’s where he lived as a child and the place he still calls ‘home’.
Nelson’s tiny apartment is in Fontvielle, the residential part of town and home to several other drivers on the grid. It’s a less glamorous yet trendy part of Monaco that’s nicely tucked away from the main tourist hotspots. “Having a base in Monaco is ideal for the European season,” says Nelson, “Nice airport is only a half-hour up the road and it’s pretty central for most European destinations, so it’s perfect for me.”
It’s a lovely flat, modern and quite minimalistic but decorated with style and, as soon as you enter the abode, you can admire Nelson’s bulging trophy cabinet, a selection of helmets and pictures from the Piquet dynasty, and a beautiful collection of miniature F1 cars. In fact, this is a formidable showcase of Nelson’s family heritage in motorsports and it really underlines Nelson’s passion for motor racing.
It’s in this apartment that Nelson does a lot of his fitness training as the place is fully kitted out with gym equipment including weights, rowing machine and neck machine. “Here the weather is beautiful all year long. I have set up the gym on the balcony so I can train in the fresh air and enjoy the view across Fontvielle harbour,” says Nelson.
Nelson usually spends several hours a day training, but he starts his day on his laptop, checking emails and catching up with friends, family and news. After a healthy breakfast, he begins his training with a jog along the beach in Cap D’Ail, or simply around the famous streets that make up the Grand Prix circuit.
A typical evening normally involves dinner with friends at home or in a local restaurant. Sometimes he’ll have a lazy evening on the sofa, chilling with some music or watching a movie.
Living in Monaco means Nelson has plenty of great locations on his doorstep and he often likes to go for a coastal drive with friends or head for the hills and the tight and twisty lanes. “I grew up here when I was a kid and so I know the area really well,” explains Nelson. “There are some amazing places to explore around Monaco and some stunning views. It’s a nice way to unwind and relax when I get some time away from the track.”
“Of course this is my home Grand Prix and I hope to achieve a good result here this weekend in Monaco,” concludes Nelson.
