Where Are They Now: Emerson Fittipaldi

BY ROSA ELENA TORRES | BRAZILIAN RACING LEGEND EMERSON FITTIPALDI HAS WON BOTH THE FORMULA 1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AND THE INDIANAPOLIS 500 TWICE EACH. AS FOR BUSINESS, HE HAS EXERCISED HIS ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS SINCE EARLY DAYS, THROUGH HIS WINNING CAREER IN MOTOR RACING AND AFTER RETIRING FROM DRIVING. WE AT PADDOCK MAGAZINE ARE HAPPY TO CHAT WITH EMERSON ABOUT THE THINGS HE’S FOCUSED ON TODAY.

After his spectacular career, these days the motorsport Hall-of-Famer can be found watching some competitive racing at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

“I think Mexico has a fantastic situation for motor racing, because it has the top categories in the world. All the kids like my son and all the people in Latin America are going to be motivated to enter the industry of motor racing. The work that Mexico is doing for motorsports in Latin America, it’s unseen. It’s fantastic,” said the racing legend. “Many kids are watching Formula 1, WEC, Formula E, World Series Formula V8 3.5 here, everything is in Mexico! Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez is a beautiful facility. Everybody from the Caribbean Islands comes here to watch the races and people from South America come here too. Mexico City is definitely the new motor racing capital. It is of crucial importance for the future, for the next generation.”

This is the new motor racing capital!

Emerson Fittipaldi

Asked about the achievements of Pietro Fittipaldi – his grandson – with two victories in the Mexican venue in the World Series Formula V8 3.5 Championship, Emerson noted: “I’m so proud. He learned a whole lot in the simulator; the preparations are very different compared to my days. Pietro is going to Italy to train with the simulator all the time. He came back here and he succeeded. It was perfect.”

Fittipaldi mentioned that he gives racing advice to his grandson: “Yes, I always talk to Pietro after practice, qualifying and the race. I give him advice, but he’s doing fantastic on his own. I think from now on he’s going to give me advice. [laughs] He’s having a very good season so far.”