F1 Legends - Emerson Fittipaldi - 720p

During the last decade, the prestigious accolade of Formula 1's youngest ever World Champion has changed hands three times. But before Fernando Alonso became the first driver under the age of 25 to win the title in 2005, one man had held the honour for over 30 years - Emerson Fittipaldi.

Career Stats

Race Starts - 144
Pole Positions - 6
Victories - 14
Podiums - 35
World Championships - 2 (1972, 1974)
Teams - Lotus, McLaren, Fittipaldi Automotive

The Brazilian, a two-time champion by just 27, was the first driver to show that age, and a relative lack of experience in the pinnacle category of motorsport, should not necessarily be a barrier to championship success. A trendsetter the popular 'Emmo' most certainly was.

The Sao Paulo-born star had already enjoyed something of a metronomic descent through the junior ranks on his arrival into F1 with Team Lotus in 1970. Having shown himself to be something of an entrepreneur during his teenage years prior to his arrival on the British racing scene, he immediately made an impression in both Formula Ford and British F3. This hadn't escaped legendary team boss Colin Chapman's notice and, after a brief stint in F2, Fittipaldi was handed his debut in the Lotus 49C at Brands Hatch where he finished just outside the points in eighth.

However, suddenly everything all changed during a tragic Italian Grand Prix weekend.


Emerson's first win came in the US GP and sealed the title for his late team-mate Jochen Rindt
The inexperienced Fittipaldi was behind established Lotus drivers Jochen Rindt, the World Championship leader, and John Miles in the team's pecking order but during practice at Monza Rindt died in an accident and then in the aftermath a grief-stricken Miles decided to never race again.



At the next round in America the 23-year-old Fittipaldi, with just three race starts under his belt, therefore had to carry the World Championship-leading outfit's challenge. Incredibly, from third on the grid he won the race, thus securing Rindt the title posthumously.

Although another win would elude him the following season amid a year in which he was involved in a road accident in France , Fittipaldi took full advantage of a car advantage the following year and five victories in 12 events was enough to see him break Jim Clark's previous benchmark for the youngest champion by nearly 24 months. Jackie Stewart denied him another title a year later, although winning his country's inaugural grand prix proved something of a consolation.


Emerson celebrates winning the 1972 Drivers' title in Italy
McLaren beckoned in 1974, and although the season got underway with a rather underwhelming 10th place finish in Argentina, next time out Fittipaldi made it two out of two at Interlagos and the smooth and measured approach to driving he had now become known for brought consistently strong results through the campaign to net him a second title in three seasons.



The emergence of the Ferrari/Niki Lauda powerhouse ensured Fittipaldi again missed out on consecutive crowns in 1975 but, having already taken his victory tally to 14, the Brazilian seemed certain to be remain at the forefront of F1 for years to come. Yet, despite racking up another five seasons his victory at the 1975 British GP would prove to be his last.

His last win came at the British GP in 1975
To the surprise of almost everyone at the time, Fittipaldi switched to his brother Wilson's start-up Copersucar-Fittipaldi operation, the main sponsorship backing coming from Brazil's state-owned sugar company. Suddenly from being in the top two positions in the Championship for four consecutive seasons, Emerson was now down in the battle for the minor points positions - at best. To his credit, he stayed steadfastly loyal to the family team as a driver until 1980 with his reward a runner-up finish in Brazil and a third at Long Beach before moving onto the management side of the team with his brother.



Although the trend of results generally seen during the final years of his F1 career didn't accurately reflect the star he arguably could still have been, Fittipaldi's subsequent performances over a 12-year stint in the US CART championship showed that the talent of his early years very much remained intact.

The 1993 Indy 500 winner
From his debut in 1984 to his final full season in 1995, the Brazilian legend won at least one race in every season, becoming the outright series champion in 1989 and winning the famous Indy 500 twice - the second time aged 47.

He finally hung up his helmet not too far short of his 50th birthday, ending a racing career in which he dazzled both young and old.



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