Brazilian F1 icon Wilson Fittipaldi passes away at 80

For Formula One fans, this month has proved to be incredibly disheartening. In a recent and unfortunate occurrence, a profound sense of excitement has surrounded Formula One enthusiasts who have dedicated themselves to the sport for decades.

The Brazilian Formula One driver, Wilson Fittipadi, has ultimately departed after a prolonged battle with health issues, leaving a void in the hearts of those who have closely followed his blooming career.

Wilson Fittipaldi dies at 80

It has been officially announced that the Formula One driver and team owner have passed away at the age of 80. Earlier on, the Brazilian driver was already having health issues as he had been hospitalised since Christmas due to a major cardiac arrest, which was initiated after choking on a huge piece of meat.

Shortly after, he was hospitalised due to his family’s inability to help with his health condition. After staying in the hospital for almost two months, the Brazilian gave up on his health and passed away on February 23rd of this year.

Fabiana Ecclestone, the vice-president of motorsport for South America, has paid an honourable tribute to Fittipaldi’s passing in a statement which said, “It is with deep sorrow that we receive the news of the passing of Wilson Fittipaldi Jr. His departure leaves an irreparable void in the automobile scene and in the lives of those who had the privilege of knowing him.”

“His dedication and efforts were fundamental in consolidating the country as an important protagonist on the international racing scene.”

Fittipaldi’s Formula 1 journey

Fittipaldi had a youthful motorsports journey back in the 90s, inspired by his father and one of the most important Brazilian figures of the F1 industry, Wilson Fittipaldi Sr. While the Brazilian had a rollercoaster of emotions in his Formula Three and Two journey, Fittipaldi ultimately made his F1 debut in early 1971, in the non-championship Argentinian GP, driving for Team Lotus alongside his brother, Emerson.

While maintaining his involvement in Formula Two, he continued with Brabham for the 1971 Formula One championship. He showcased an impressive performance in Monaco, which was ultimately the peak career moment of his life. In 1974, his only appearance was with Brabham in a non-championship race in Brasilia. Shortly after, he took a break from Formula One to establish his own team in Brazil.

His team was named after the sponsoring sugar company, Copersucar, which made its debut in 1975 but was suffering from a huge lack of proper driving form, with its best result being a 10th place finish in the US Grand Prix. Afterwards, Fittipaldi decided to retire from Formula One driving and focus on maintaining the team’s growth while also convincing his brother Emerson to join him too.

The team had a fair amount of struggle to keep up with the other teams on the grid; however, a ray of hope emerged as Emerson secured a second-place finish in the home race. In 1980, World Champion Keke Roseburg was hired as the second driver of the team as it went through a huge merger. Emerson soon retired at the end of the 1980 campaign, with the team reaching forever within a span of two years.

Which period do you think was the highlight of Wilson’s career? Let us know about your opinions in the comment section below.