Fittipaldi compares: 'A Formula 1 car is like a spaceship'

Pietro Fittipaldi is slowly becoming part of Haas F1's furniture. In almost five years with the US team, the Brazilian was twice allowed to compete in a Grand Prix, otherwise it was limited to test runs and being on standby in case one of the regular drivers failed (again).

Once again, Haas opted for someone else. Not Fittipaldi, but Nico Hulkenberg was enshrined for this season to replace Mick Schumacher. Over the years, the Brazilian - grandson of two-time world champion Emerson - had heard 'no' so many times from team boss Guenther Steiner and team owner Gene Haas. Anyone else might be despondent. Fittipaldi is different.

Understanding for Haas team

Disappointed? In an exclusive interview with GPblog, Fittipaldi let the question sink in for a moment. "No, obviously as a driver, you always...", before he lets out a small silence. "It's a dream to be racing in Formula 1 full-time. Me personally, I believe I'm ready and I would be able to deliver great performances. Every time I tested the car, we've been super competitive. The Formula 1 car suits my driving style very well. So I know that with the opportunity, I would be able to deliver. But I also understand the team side and the decisions that they make. Going for a driver that already has a lot of Grand Prix starts and has a lot of experience. So I understand their point as well. I have to respect their decision. But I will keep pushing always."

Fittipaldi is trying to earn his stripes in other classes, such as currently for JOTA in the World Endurance Championship(WEC) and in its American counterpart IMSA. "Formula 1 for sure is the best car ever to drive because everything a racing driver wants in a race car, the Formula 1 has. So the Formula 1 car is like a spaceship. It's unbelievable. What I like about the endurance racing is the racing because you can be fighting for a win in your class and you get stuck between a hyper car and GTs.  It means the racing is crazy and it's endurance racing. You could be fighting the same car for, I mean, hours, you know, and by the end of a eight hour race, you only have a couple of seconds in between each other."

'Ready for F1'

Reaching Formula 1 via endurance racing anyway is possible, as Brendon Hartley in the past and recently Nyck de Vries showed. "You can't lose if you refuse to give up," responds Fittipaldi combatively. "If you keep pushing, you never know what will happen. And not like I'm expecting something to happen with all the years I've been with Haas. All I can do is my best every time I get in the car. Every time I've gotten in, we've been fast, we've been competitive. And if the opportunity comes, I'll be ready. If not, I'll continue doing my job with Haas and I'll do my other racing as well. Pursuing my other dreams in racing. To one day win Le Mans, who knows win the Daytona 24 Hours, win the Indy 500."

To keep growing as a driver, mileage is necessary. Especially in Formula 1. In principle, Fittipaldi is eligible for the free practice sessions in which F1 teams are required to field a rookie twice a year. There is no certainty that Haas will use him for this purpose this season too. "I did it last year, two of them [participating in free practice sessions]. So yeah, it depends. I think it's more towards the middle of the end of the year, but it depends what the team decides."

Time in the car

"Because I know they usually also help the Ferrari Academy drivers, so I don't know what will happen there. But I know Gunther always gives me some time in the car at some point, so I'm still going to all the races every weekend and everything. I do data telemetry work, looking at a driver compare for the drivers. Sometimes live in the session as well. So I do that work throughout the race, the F1 race weekends also for the teams."

With tests and races in WEC and almost all Grands Prix that Fittipaldi attends, it's a packed year. "Travelling doesn't stop, but I like it busy. I don't want to be at home, I want to be at a racetrack. The busier, the better," concludes the Brazilian.