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Pietro Fittipaldi still waiting for his chance in the Haas team

Pietro Fittipaldi still waiting for his chance in the Haas team

21-07-2022 19:37

GPblog.com

Grandson of two-time Formula 1 world champion Emerson Fittipaldi, and older brother of Formula 2 driver Enzo Fittipaldi, Pietro still dreams of his opportunity in the main category of motorsport. At 26, the Brazilian is the current test and reserve driver for the Haas F1 Team, and also usually competes in other categories.

Pietro started his career in karting, where he competed in several championships between 2004 and 2009. In 2013 he made his debut in formula cars, in the Formula Renault Championship - Autumn Cup. Pietro won three titles competing in Formula Renault 2.0 in 2014, the most important of which was the Protyre Formula Renault Championship title, where he claimed 10 wins in 15 races contested.

With the incredible performance that the Brazilian had been showing in these lower categories, in 2015 he got a spot in European Formula 3, taking a big step towards his dream of reaching Formula 1.

To improve his development as a driver, Pietro has already participated in other categories such as Super Formula and Indy Formula in 2018, and in DTM in 2019. He competed again in IndyCar in 2021, when he needed to replace Grosjean during three rounds of the championship.

Arrival at the Haas F1 Team

In 2019, Pietro signed with the Haas F1 Team to officially become their test driver. Following the serious accident suffered by Frenchman Romain Grosjean on the first lap of the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix, Pietro left the third driver position to take over Grosjean's Haas VF-20 at that year's Sakhir Grand Prix, ending the absence of a Brazilian on the category grid since Felipe Massa's retirement at the end of 2017. Pietro would finish that race ahead of his teammate Kevin Magnussen, but was called into the pits by the team in the final laps to do an extra tyre change, which caused the Dane to regain position and finish ahead of the Brazilian. Pietro also replaced Grosjean in the last race of that season, at the Yas Marina Grand Prix.

There were even thoughts of Pietro staying on for the 2021 Formula 1 season, as Grosjean and Magnussen's contracts had expired, but Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher were chosen by the team, leaving Pietro as the third driver for the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

Formula One opportunity in 2022

At the start of the 2022 season, after Mazepin's departure from the team as a consequence of the war between Russia and Ukraine, it was expected that Pietro would finally return to the Formula 1 grid, this time as a starter driver. But that didn't happen, as Haas opted to sign a contract with its former driver Kevin Magnussen, frustrating the expectations that the Brazilians had of having a driver in the category again.

In an interview given to AutoSport, Pietro couldn't hide his disappointment: "[Guenther] told me that two candidates were being considered: me and another one that I didn't know who it was. It was Kevin, and it ended up going his way. I respect the team's decision. But of course, as a driver at heart, it's disappointing, it hurts, because I know the potential we have and what I know I can deliver. "

Pietro said he understands the reasons for the team's choice and that this will only give him more reason to keep working: "[Steiner] said: 'we need someone with experience', and I understood that, and it doesn't change my commitment to the team. The story doesn't end here. I'm going to keep working hard. I've had to go through a lot of adversity in my career, and this is just another one. The only thing I can do is work even harder."

Vacancy unlikely for 2023

Mick Schumacher's contract runs out at the end of the current season, although it is more likely that both parties will opt for a renewal. Should Mick decide to leave the team, Pietro would still have to compete for his place with other young talents who are catching the eye in F2, such as his compatriot Felipe Drugovich, Frenchman Théo Pourchaire, and American Logan Sargeant.

Already with 26 years old, it is hard to believe that Pietro will be able to assume a starting spot in F1 soon, or even someday, but his experience can make the difference in case changes happen at the end of the season.