Pietro Fittipaldi

IndyCar debut in 2018

Pietro Fittipaldi made his IndyCar debut in 2018 with Dale Coyne Racing, driving the #19 car, which the grandson of Emerson Fittipaldi shared that season with Zachary Claman DeMelo. Fittipaldi debuted during the second race of the season on the oval at Phoenix Raceway. Despite an impressive tenth-place qualifying result, the Brazilian crashed in the 41st lap of the race, becoming the first retiree of the event.

Severe crash at Spa and recovery

Fittipaldi was also scheduled to compete in the Indianapolis 500 that season. However, in early May, the Brazilian broke both of his legs in a crash at the famous Eau Rouge corner at Spa-Francorchamps during practice for the 6 Hours of Spa, a long-distance race that is part of the World Endurance Championship. Due to this accident, Fittipaldi was sidelined for two months and only returned to the cockpit of an IndyCar at the end of July.

Comeback and first top ten result

Because Zachary Claman DeMelo had driven nearly every race in the #19 car for Dale Coyne Racing following Fittipaldi’s crash at Spa, Fittipaldi was able to complete the remaining races starting from Mid-Ohio. At Portland International Raceway, he achieved his first top-ten finish in IndyCar by crossing the line in ninth place.

Move to Formula 1 and DTM in 2019

Despite the positive impression Fittipaldi left in the final five races of the season, he made the move to Formula 1 in 2019. He joined the Haas F1 Team as a test and reserve driver. Additionally, he raced full-time in the DTM series for Audi Sport Team WRT and Audi Sport Team Rosberg.

Formula 1 debut in 2020

In 2020, Pietro Fittipaldi continued as a test and reserve driver for the Haas F1 Team. Due to a severe crash involving Romain Grosjean during the Bahrain Grand Prix, Fittipaldi was called up to make his Formula 1 debut for the American team in the final two races of the season.

Return to IndyCar and European Le Mans Series in 2021

In 2021, Fittipaldi returned to the Haas F1 Team as a test and reserve driver. He also joined G-Drive Racing in the European Le Mans Series and participated in a part-time program in the NTT IndyCar Series. The former World Series Formula V8 3.5 champion was expected to compete in the oval races for Dale Coyne Racing that year, but ultimately, he participated in only three races.

In 2022 and 2023, Fittipaldi raced in the LMP2 class in sportscars, which he combined with his role as a reserve driver for the Haas F1 Team.

First fulltime IndyCar season in 2024

In 2024, Fittipaldi returned to the IndyCar Series, where he competed in his first fulltime season with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. However, it turned out to be a particularly difficult year, as he did not finish in the top ten even once and only finished ahead of his teammates a few times. A 19th place in the championship was far from what Fittipaldi had hoped for at the beginning of the season.