F3 opportunism and return from crash adversity: moments that made Enzo Fittipaldi

9 August 2022

He has been enjoying a brilliant season in 2022 so far and Enzo Fittipaldi is the latest to join us in reflecting on the moments that got him to this point.

Battles against adversity, signing on the dotted line at the right time and help from his family behind him, the Charouz Racing System driver recalls the key points in his career.

FAMILY

“Number one is the sacrifice my whole family does. They're always there supporting. They all work as a team, me, my brother, my dad, to find sponsorship – which is a very important thing. If it wasn't for Banco Brazil, I wouldn't be racing here today. Without my dad and my mum sacrifice their whole lives, I wouldn't be here.

"They’re always there for us, when we would be in a place that it looked like I was probably not going to be able to race the following year, we'd always find a way of working together to turn things around and try to make it work. Without all their sacrifices they've done for me and my brother, for sure I wouldn't be racing here.”

FERRARI DRIVER ACADEMY

“When I signed with Ferrari in the 2017 season for the Academy. If they weren't going to sign me, I don't know how what else I would have been doing if it wasn't for that shaping of my career - they brought me onto this road to Formula 2.

“Getting the opportunity with Ferrari, I did the test then I was given the chance to do the shootout week where they had like five drivers out there. They weren't expecting much from me. They were testing Marcus Armstrong and some other very good drivers. I was extremely young. I could barely drive the car since I was very small. I remember I wanted to feel it out and it was my first time driving a Formula 4 and I was the fastest, faster than anyone there, faster than Marcus, those driving and testing Formula Renault for a really long time. I was already up to speed in my first time in single-seaters. That for me was a very important point in my career. They enabled me to do Formula 4 where I won the championship. That was a critical moment in my career.

“I got to do mental training, driving in the simulator, it's a crazy thing. It kind of feels like a dream because you're there. As a little kid, I was three years-old and got to see the Ferrari factory as a tourist and then you go there, do a shoot-out and drive around Fiorano, it's like a dream. Those years with Ferrari were just crazy. It's a crazy feeling. It was amazing. If that wouldn't have happened and if I hadn’t signed with FDA at the end of 2016, I don't think I would be here today because that signing with them is what shaped my career."

CHAROUZ PHONE CALL

"I did a race weekend in the US, and I got a call from Bob (Vavrik) from Charouz. They're like, ‘look, we need an experienced driver in Formula 3 to race with us.’ I didn't look back. I took that opportunity and just gave it my best. Then I got the podium in Budapest which, at that time, was the best result for the team. That podium in Budapest was really what got me the opportunity in Formula 2, because it was such a good moment with the whole team. Then there was this opportunity for me to jump in the F2 car in Monza, we found a small sponsorship for one or two races. I did a really good job in Monza and obviously I was still learning, and then I had the crash in Jeddah."

WHAT HAPPENED IN 2021 JEDDAH FEATURE RACE

“That was very bad. But actually, when I look back, it really did change me a lot, as a person and as driver. I’m a different person now, a lot more focused, a lot more dedicated. Through those times, those very tough times in the hospital, the recovery process changed my mindset, and now this year has been going really well.

“The crash was a very difficult time but then I came out much stronger mentally and as a person. It was a bad thing but also a good thing at the same time because it made me more mentally strong.”