Pietro Fittipaldi, born on 25th June 1996, has Brazilian and American roots and is better known as the grandson of Emerson Fittipaldi, a two-time Formula One World Champion.
In 2014, Pietro Fittipaldi’s young junior career improved when he was selected as one of only four drivers invited to test for the Ferrari Driver Academy. His first experience testing an F1 car came on November 27, 2018, at the Yas Marina Circuit, where he drove with Haas in a post-season test session.
Later that month Fittipaldi was officially announced as a Haas test driver for the 2019 season. This role included participating in the first pre-season test in Barcelona in February of that year. Fittipaldi further showcased his skills at the 2019 Bahrain Young Driver Test and later at the mid-season test in Catalunya.
Retained as a Haas test driver for the 2020 season it was announced that he would be racing for the team at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix as a replacement for the injured Romain Grosjean, who had sustained burns in a crash during the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix. Fittipaldi’s debut in Formula 1 was not only a personal achievement but also historic, as he became the first grandson of an F1 driver to compete in the sport. Despite starting last, he managed to finish 17th. Haas team principal Guenther Steiner praised Fittipaldi’s performance, considering his long absence from a full-time race seat.
Fittipaldi continued to substitute for Grosjean in the season finale at Abu Dhabi. He qualified 19th, moving up to 17th on the grid due to penalties, but would finish last. Post-race, he expressed a desire to remain involved in Formula One as a reserve driver for 2021, a role Haas confirmed in February 2021.
For the 2022 season, Fittipaldi retained his position with Haas. He drove the Haas VF-22 during the first day of pre-season testing in Bahrain, stepping in for Nikita Mazepin after Mazepin’s contract termination. Although Kevin Magnussen replaced him for the remainder of the test and was eventually chosen over Fittipaldi for the race seat, Fittipaldi remained a key figure in the team. He participated in free practice sessions at the Mexico City and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and was involved in post-season testing in Abu Dhabi.
Haas continued to value Fittipaldi’s contributions, retaining him for the 2023 season and extended that role for a sixth consecutive season in 2024, sharing the role with Oliver Bearman.
In January 2023, Fittipaldi was also confirmed as a full-time driver in the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship with Jota Sport, teaming up with David Heinemeier Hansson and Oliver Rasmussen.
