EXCLUSIVE: Enzo Fittipaldi: "Formula One is the ultimate dream

During the summer holidays, before the Belgian Grand Prix, GPblog interviewed Brazilian F2 driver Enzo Fittipaldi. In conversation with our editors of the Brazilian edition, Marcos Gil and Vicente Soella, Enzo talked a bit about his career, his YouTube channel, the debut of Formula 4 in Brazil, and also a bit about his expectations for the future.

Enzo Fittipaldi with exclusiveness

(GPBLOG) Enzo, you are affectionately known among Brazilians as "little shark." Where did this nickname come from, and when did it appear?

(Enzo) It's even curious because I think it came up on Twitch, where we currently have the channel Fittipaldi Brothers, I realized it was something affectionate coming from the fans, so I ended up adopting it and Charouz and Formula 2 encourage the nickname "shark" on social networks.

(GPBLOG) We know that you and your brother have a very strong relationship. You even have a YouTube channel together. We would like to know if you usually talk a lot before each race, if he gives you any advice, or if you prefer to stay more on your own, concentrating alone?

(Enzo) Me and Pietro talk about racing basically 24 hours a day. He and I breathe it all the time, so it's very normal that one ends up encouraging and giving tips to the other. I get a lot of inspiration from him, in the professional way he works and in how he has a great capacity to adapt to any kind of car.

(GPBLOG) In the last race in Hungary you achieved two impressive results. In Saturday's race you came in 3rd position, and in Sunday's main race you achieved an even better result, coming in 2nd position. You were the only driver who got on the podium in both races in this last Grand Prix. We know that the next round of the championship is in Belgium and many drivers throughout history have stated that Spa has always been their favourite circuit on the calendar, and certainly one of the most iconic tracks in motorsport. Do you also feel that Spa has a different magic? What are your expectations for the next race?

(Enzo) Spa is a really fantastic track, the layout is very challenging and it's a track that practically every driver dreams of driving on one day. My first time on it was in Formula 3 in 2020, so I've never raced for Charouz on this track and neither with the Formula 2 car, which brings a greater sense of speed. The expectation is the best possible, to try to get a top-10 on the grid and maybe fight for the first positions in race 1.

(GPBLOG) Among all the circuits you will race at this season in F2, is there one you feel is your favorite, or the one you feel most comfortable at? Do you miss a weekend race at Interlagos?

(Enzo) Formula 2 runs on several circuits that I really like, such as Hungaroring, Monza and Spa. One that I also liked a lot in my F3 days was Mugello. I have a lot of affection for Italian tracks, also because of the training I did there in Italian F4. Interlagos is a track I've been to a few times, but I still have the dream of driving in an official race. For now I had the chance to compete only in virtual races there and I won there with the Virtual F1 race in 2021 with Haas.

(GPBLOG) Unfortunately, last year during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, you were involved in a terrible accident with Theo Pourchaire right at the start. After a few tense moments while everyone waited for news about your condition, it was reported that you had fractured your right heel and also suffered some minor injuries to your face. At the time, it was even reported that the impact of the crash had been a staggering 72G. I wanted to know, what went through your mind during those days, and what changed in your mentality after the event? Do you still carry any "fear" because of what happened or do you think that it's really part of the sport and you can't get too caught up in these situations?

(Enzo) It was a long period of recovery for me, but I had a lot of support from my parents and my brothers. It all happened very quickly at that GP, but I remember being treated very well by the medical staff both at the circuit and in the hospital in Saudi Arabia. My brother was working there with Haas, so he gave me a lot of support. As that was my last race in 2021, I had time to turn the page and start 2022 focused on just doing my best. There was no fear in my mind and it was good that we started 2022 by getting good results and that was bringing even more confidence to me.

(GPBLOG) Even with Charouz, which is a team that historically doesn't give so many opportunities for its drivers to win, you have been able to achieve consistent results and are currently fourth in F2, only 19 points behind Logan Sargeant, who is one of the most quoted F2 drivers at the moment to assume a spot in F1 next year. With this performance, have any F1 teams contacted you yet? Are there talks about the possibility of driving for some team in a Free Practice later this year?

(Enzo) I've never denied that my big dream is to get to Formula One, but I believe that everything has its time to happen. Sometimes it doesn't seem like it, but 2022 is my first full season in F2, so my main focus is here at Charouz and on finishing the year in the best way possible. Of course, as the end of the season comes, the talks will intensify, but I want to focus on the last few races first and then think about 2023.

(GPBLOG) You were part of the Ferrari Academy for 4 years, but today you are no longer linked to a programme of any team. Do you think that being part of an Academy can help to shorten the path to Formula One or do you think that it closes other doors and limits the opportunities, as the driver is "stuck" in one team and depending only on it to reach the top category?

(Enzo) Being part of the Ferrari Driver's Academy was a great honour for me and I am still very well received at Maranello. I have many friends there and it was really the base of my Formula career. Being champion of F4 and vice-champion of FRECA were of great importance for my professional growth. We currently have great drivers connected with the academies, but that doesn't prevent other competitors from reaching Formula One. I still believe that if the driver is talented and is in a team that has the ability to deliver a competitive car, he can very well be noticed by a F1 team.

(GPBLOG) Since we got into the subject of driver academies, tell us a bit more about the support these programs offer to their members. How is the daily routine, the integration with the team, if there is any financial support to compete?

(Enzo) The support at Ferrari Driver Academy, where I was for a few years, was very good because we had physical and mental tests, we got to know the work at the factory, we went on trips and we were inserted in a strong competition environment. The financial part varies according to each project and also the condition of the pilot to help bring sponsorship to the team.

(GPBLOG) We have many Brazilian drivers that are appearing in the motorsport scene in the last years and they all have a lot of talent, for example, your brother, who is a reserve driver for Haas, you and Felipe Drugovich, who are both doing a great season in F2, among others. In your opinion, what is missing for us to finally have a Brazilian driver occupying an integral place in a team in the F1? Is it the lack of sponsorship? Is there a lack of support from Brazilian companies?

(Enzo) Currently I count on Brazilian supporters, mainly with the support that Banco do Brasil, Claro, and Baterias Moura give me, besides other important partners like Gate.io, Stake, Hyper X, Furia, PLGG, Snapdragon, and Fantom. I believe there is a lack of vacancies even in Formula 1, the drivers there are very good and do quality work within their teams, but we hope to have positive news soon for Brazil.

(GPBLOG) Still on the previous topic, in the last years some drivers arrived in Formula One more driven by big sponsors than necessarily by an expressive performance in the training categories (the so called "paying drivers"). Leaving aside the debate about being right or wrong the financial criteria above the technical one, why don't we see any Brazilian driver with a support of this magnitude? Why Brazilian companies don't support national talents as we see companies from other countries doing?

(Enzo) As I said before, Pietro and I have been receiving support from Brazilian companies, even knowing the difficulty of exchange between the values in reais and in euros, as the F1 works. Motor racing is an expensive sport, so the difficulties for drivers and supporting companies are many. The Brazilians also look for sponsors from abroad, it's something natural to try to continue our careers.

(GPBLOG) This year we are having the debut of the Brazilian F4, after a long time without an entry category in single-seaters for young talents in karting. How important is it to have this category in Brazilian soil? And do you think that, in the medium and long term, it's possible to see more training categories here in Brazil and/or South America (a Regional Formula, for example)?

(Enzo) It's really a great initiative that the CBA and Vicar have achieved for Brazil. The drivers need this support and this is a school category that can help a lot in their career. I've learned a lot in Formula 4, it's a great car to drive and, from what I've seen in the races, the championship has started very well. The more national categories we have in Brazil, either in Formula One or Touring, the better for our sport.

(GPBLOG) Every driver dreams to reach Formula One, but we know there are few vacancies and many have to seek their professional career in other categories. Is there any other championship that attracts your attention and that, even if you get to F1, you'd be interested in testing or even competing in the future?

(Enzo) Formula 1 is really the ultimate dream and for me it couldn't be different. I work very focused with this goal, but it is clear that other great opportunities must appear along my career. Pietro always talks about IndyCar, about how the Americans work, so it's a car I would also like to race one day.