Who was the first driver to win the World Championship using a turbocharged engine?

Nelson Piquet was the first driver to win the World Championship using a turbocharged engine. He achieved the feat in 1983, driving Brabham’s BMW-powered BT52 to his second drivers’ title.

Turbocharged engines had already appeared in Formula One, but early examples were difficult to make reliable and responsive. Renault pioneered the modern turbo era in the late 1970s, while BMW supplied Brabham with a powerful four-cylinder turbo engine for Piquet’s title campaign.

Piquet won three races in 1983: Brazil, Italy, and the European Grand Prix at Brands Hatch. He also scored consistently through the season and finished three points ahead of Renault driver Alain Prost. Brabham placed only third in the constructors’ standings, an unusual combination for a drivers’ champion.

Keke Rosberg, Alain Prost, and Niki Lauda were all world champions associated with important Formula One technology changes, but none was the first turbo-powered champion. Piquet’s 1983 title was also BMW’s first Formula One World Championship.