Ahead of the US Grand Prix, two-time world champion Emerson Fittipaldi shared his thoughts on the best drivers of modern Formula 1, his grandson Pietro’s partnership with Haas, and who he believes will fill the remaining vacancies in the teams.
Q: Max Verstappen became a two-time world champion by joining an elite club that you are a member of. Do you think it is more difficult to win two titles now than in your time?
Emerson Fittipaldi: I think it is not easy to become world champion in any era. In Formula 1 there is always a very high level of rivalry and always a lot of pressure. So winning two titles is a very difficult task.
If a rider manages to win a second championship, it is always satisfying because it confirms both your talent and your determination. I’m sure Max is very happy now, because winning two titles in a row is a very special achievement.
Q: Do you think the ambiguous ending to last year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, as well as the history of financial violations committed by Red Bull Racing, somehow diminish the importance of Max’s performance?
Emerson Fittipaldi: Not at all. It has nothing to do with Max. I think he deserved the title last year and certainly the title in 2022. Last season he had the most wins and this season he was just fantastic.
What happened in Abu Dhabi doesn’t detract from Max’s talent, and now he’s shown it again, proving he doesn’t care about any pressure. He is a real world champion.
Q: Can we say that Lewis Hamilton has learned a lot this season?
Emerson Fittipaldic: I think Lewis taught us a lot. It must be assumed that he was very upset at the start of the year as his car did not allow him to fight for victories, and it is very insulting to be in a similar situation to the seven-time world champion. However, he fought to the end in every race and was literally trying to win back every second.
Gradually his company got better and now Mercedes is already performing at a fairly high level. Lewis’ determination, his talent and his ability to work hard are impressive.
Q: What results do you expect from Ferrari in Austin?
Emerson Fittipaldi: I’m in Austin this weekend, which I’m very happy about. The US Grand Prix promises to be exciting, the battle will be sharp and I’m sure Ferrari will perform well. Scuderia will try to beat Red Bull Racing, take revenge for what happened this year in Japan and in general.
Race in the US is very important for Ferrari, they have a lot of customers there and if the team can win the US Grand Prix it will be a great bonus for the whole company, not just the racing division.
Q: Can Charles Leclerc improve his results in the remaining races of the season?
Emerson Fittipaldi: I believe he gets more experience with each race. At Suzuka, the conditions were such that he made a mistake in the last corner of the last lap, when the finish was already close. But because of this mistake, Sergio Perez rose to the second line of the personal classification and Max Verstappen became world champion.
Charles will experience even more pressure at the US Grand Prix, there is no doubt that he will struggle there.
Q: What tasks does Perez have to face now?
Emerson Fittipaldi: I think his job is to try to perform at a partner’s level. He hopes for a good result in America and then he will prepare for the home race in Mexico City, where the whole country is cheering him. Of course he faces a difficult test.
Q: The season for Carlos Sainz is not going well – how to act to change this situation?
Emerson Fittipaldi: This year Carlos has gained valuable experience, which will certainly help him at the end of the season and next year. He is a very fast racer, able to show the highest results. Sometimes he makes mistakes, but that’s life.
Q: Nick de Vries chose to sign with AlphaTauri over Williams. Do you think he made the right choice?
Emerson Fittipaldi: This is a great solution. Led by Franz Tost, he will play for a very good team, who know a lot about racing. Nick made a big impression playing for Williams at Monza and I’m sure he’s already looking forward to next season. I have no doubt that he is capable of achieving high results behind the wheel of the AlphaTauri car.
Q: There is another vacancy at Williams, and Mick Schumacher could become one of the contenders for that…
Emerson Fittipaldi: I think it’s a shame that there are only ten teams in Formula 1. Williams is gradually adding, this team has potential and I think this could be a good option for Mick. Very soon Williams will rise to the next level.
Q: Your grandson Pietro will train behind the wheel of a Haas car in Mexico City and Abu Dhabi: what do you expect from him?
Emerson Fittipaldi: I think it is good for Pietro’s career, he is a very fast and talented driver. Working in training allows him to show his talent, so I’m very happy for him. His job is to provide the team with information useful in setting up the machine. I’m sure Kevin will help him.
Working with a driver like Magnussen is great. Of course Pietro is happy with this opportunity. I think Formula 1 lacks teams where young drivers can show what they are capable of.
Q: Nico Hulkenberg is considered one of the prime candidates for a position at Haas. Will he be a good partner for Kevin?
Emerson Fittipaldi: I always thought Niko was a very fast and very talented, but underrated driver. It’s my personal opinion.
Q: Will Formula 1 miss Daniel Ricciardo?
Emerson Fittipaldi: Naturally. He is a great ambassador for our sport and a very interesting person. Formula 1 lacks personalities like Ricciardo and when I look at McLaren I always like to talk to him. I think Formula 1 will lose a lot if it doesn’t play in the world championship.
Source: F1 News
I’m Todderic Kirkman, a journalist and author for athletistic. I specialize in covering all news related to sports, ranging from basketball to football and everything in between. With over 10 years of experience in the industry, I have become an invaluable asset to my team. My ambition is to bring the most up-to-date information on sports topics around the world.
