Fittipaldi: This year is especially important for my career

Enzo Fittipaldi, grandson of two-time world champion Emerson Fittipaldi, has started his second full season in Formula 2, but of course he dreams of entering Formula 1. However, his biography and career have gone through a difficult period in the past year and a half, associated with the consequences of a serious accident, in which he fell on the track in Jeddah in December 2021.

Enzo then debuted in the youth series, he only joined the Charouz team at the September round in Monza, but at the start of Sunday’s race in Saudi Arabia there was an incident that left him in a hospital bed.

Theo Purscher’s car stopped on the grid, Fittipaldi had no time to dodge and crashed into it from behind, after which both riders were taken by helicopter to a military hospital in Jeddah.

Purscher was not particularly injured, and Enzo’s condition, according to his brother Pietro, was only known to have a broken heel bone, as well as several bruises and lacerations. And only later it turned out that he had undergone a neurosurgical operation.

“A tumor formed in the brain, although the operation was very small – it was necessary to pump out the accumulated blood and normalize the cranial pressure,” Fittipaldi confirmed in a recent interview with Mirror Sport. “But it wasn’t that big of a deal compared to recovering from a leg injury. I think as you go through these trials you learn a lot about yourself.

I had to spend a week or two in intensive care, and that period was the hardest. But when I overcame all these difficulties things started to change for the better as I got stronger as a rider, got stronger physically and became more resilient mentally.”

Enzo returned to action at the beginning of last year’s season, gradually his results grew, he climbed the podium six times and finished the championship in 8th place in the individual standings. And last fall he was accepted into the Red Bull youth program.

“I am very happy to be part of the Red Bull family and now play for such a successful team as Carlin,” said the 22-year-old Brazilian with a US passport. “There are great opportunities in front of me, but I have to work on myself and make improvements.

This year is especially important for my career. And I will do my best to make it as successful as possible. Of course I dream of entering Formula 1, but for now I try not to think about it. I am focused on achieving high results.

If I show them in Formula 2 and become one of the contenders for the title, new opportunities will arise naturally. The 2023 season is just starting, so I’m not thinking about 2024 yet.”