Brazilian · São Paulo, Brazil · Born 12 December 1946Two-time Formula One World Champion from Brazil whose calm brilliance and smooth driving style brought Lotus and McLaren glory in the early 1970s.
Emerson Fittipaldi was born on 12 December 1946 in São Paulo, Brazil, and named after American writer Ralph Waldo Emerson, a favourite of his father, Wilson, a prominent motorsport journalist and radio commentator. Wilson took Emerson to watch a motorcycle race won by John Surtees, sparking a lifelong passion for speed, though his father was initially reluctant to finance his sons' racing ambitions. Emerson and his older brother Wilson Jr. became successful teenage entrepreneurs instead, building a custom car accessory business and constructing their own karts, with Emerson becoming Brazilian kart champion at 18 and winning the Brazilian Formula Vee title in 1967. He moved to England in 1969, working as a mechanic in Wimbledon to fund his racing before being spotted by the Jim Russell Racing School. Fittipaldi joined Team Lotus and, following the death of Jochen Rindt at the 1970 Italian Grand Prix, became the team's lead driver in only his fifth Grand Prix. He won the 1972 World Championship at 25, becoming, at the time, the youngest champion in the sport's history, and added a second title with McLaren in 1974. Fittipaldi surprised the paddock by joining his brother's own Fittipaldi Automotive team in 1976, and later moved to North American open-wheel racing, winning the Indianapolis 500 twice and the 1989 CART championship. He remains one of the most influential figures in Brazilian motorsport history, having paved the way for the generation of Brazilian drivers who followed him to Europe.
First Brazilian Formula 1 World Champion and youngest champion at the time
How They Played
Smooth, calculated driving style with exceptional racecraft and ability to extract maximum performance from the car
Lasting Impact
Pioneer who opened doors for Brazilian drivers in Formula 1 and inspired a generation including Ayrton Senna
Career Honours
- F1 World Champion 1972 (Lotus)
- F1 World Champion 1974 (McLaren)
- Race wins 14
- Pole positions 6
- Indianapolis 500 Winner 1989, 1993
| Constructor | Season(s) | Races |
|---|---|---|
| Team Lotus (F1) | 1970–1973 | 59 |
| McLaren (F1) | 1974–1975 | 29 |
| Copersucar-Fittipaldi / Fittipaldi Automotive (F1) | 1976–1980 | 65 |
| Skippie / Havoline Racing – CART (debut season) | 1984 | — |
| Patrick Racing – CART | 1985–1989 | — |
| Marlboro Team Penske – CART | 1990–1995 | — |
| Hogan Penske Racing – CART | 1996 | — |
| Career Total | — | 153 |
Brazilian Athletes