A two-time Formula 1 world champion has revealed that his son could be set for a move to Formula 3 as they look to emulate their father’s success.
Emerson Fittipaldi is one of the most recognised and legendary names in the sport, winning the Formula 1 championship in 1972 with Lotus and in 1974 with McLaren.
The Brazilian made a total of 144 race starts from 1970 to 1980 with Lotus, McLaren and his own team, winning 14 races and achieving 21 podiums.
Fittipaldi also comes from a huge motorsport family and the 77-year-old has now revealed that his son, Emerson Fittipaldi Jr, could even be set to join the Formula 3 grid for 2025.
Emerson Fittipaldi’s son could be on the Formula 3 grid for 2025
Emerson Fittipaldi Jr began his junior racing career in 2021 when he finished third in the Formula 4 Danish Championship.
For 2022, the 17-year-old competed in the Italian F4 Championship and the ADAC F4 Championship, before moving to the Formula Regional European Championship the following year.
Fittipaldi Jr also drove four races in Eurocup-3 in 2023, before moving to the series full-time for the 2024 campaign where he currently sits sixth in the standings with two podiums.
Now, his father has shared on the Motor Sport Magazine Podcast that the young talent could be set for a spot on the Formula 3 grid for next year.
While discussing his grandsons Pietro and Enzo’s careers in motorsports so far, he revealed the news about Fittipaldi Jr and offered some advice for the prodigies.
“Well, with Pietro, [he] just signed with Graham Rahal in IndyCar. Enzo is driving in Formula 2, he’s doing well,” he said.
“I think Pietro’s going to do very well. In Indianapolis, he was very fast on the ovals, where he had some experience there. Enzo’s doing really well in Formula 2.
“And then with my son Emerson Jr, he’s going to race next year in Eurocup-3 or Formula 3.
“My advice to them is the same as my father’s. It’s a very complex sport, a very difficult sport. You have to commit yourself fully. You have to dream about racing, you have to have nightmares about racing.
“You have to have breakfast talking about racing, lunch about racing, dinner about racing and then you have the chance to succeed.”
The Fittipaldi family are in a wide range of motorsports
As Emerson Fittipaldi Jr is on his way up through the junior ranks, the family name already has some other stars in the senior levels of racing.
Emerson Fittipaldi’s oldest grandson, Pietro, currently competes in IndyCar for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and currently sits 19th in the standings.
The Brazilian has previously been a test driver in Formula E and drove the final two rounds of the 2020 Formula 1 season for Haas, replacing the injured Romain Grosjean. He is the American team’s reserve driver for the 2024 season.
Enzo Fittipaldi is currently competing in his third season in Formula 2, driving for Van Amersfoort Racing. The 23-year-old is 11th in the standings, with a victory in the feature race in Jeddah.