F1 champion Piquet has heart surgery

Triple world champion Nelson Piquet had heart surgery this week.

Agencia Estado said the 61-year-old, who won his titles for Brabham and Williams in the 80s, had the operation to unblock an artery at the Albert Einstein hospital in Sao Paulo.

A spokesperson for the hospital said the former driver, whose son Nelson Piquet jr also raced in formula one, requested that details not be disclosed.

"Dad is fine and will be home soon," Piquet jr told his Twitter followers.