Breaking news
Super Formula
Fittipaldi in talks for 2019 Super Formula return
Haas Formula 1 test driver Pietro Fittipaldi says he is in discussions to make a full-time return to Super Formula in 2019.
Rachit Thukral Tomohiro Yoshita
Edited: Dec 8, 2018, 10:42 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Fittipaldi was due to complete a part-season in Japan’s premier single-seater championship this year with Team LeMans, but was forced to abort that plan after just one race after suffering a high-speed crash in the Spa FIA World Endurance Championship round.
Since recovering from the injuries he sustained, which included a broken left leg and right ankle, Fittipaldi prioritised IndyCar over his other commitments, taking part in the last five races of the season.
However, the Brazilian has now shown interest in making a Super Formula comeback, and was in attendance at the Suzuka post-season test earlier this week.
“Yeah, I came [to Suzuka] just to have meetings,” Fittipaldi told Motorsport.com. “Obviously Super Formula is a great championship, looking maybe at the possibility of next year.
“Of course it will be great if I can race in Super Formula if it’s in the correct package and we can be competitive. We think it’s something very interesting.
“I came to follow the test and I know Timo [Rumpfkeil] from Motopark for many years. So he let me follow the test with the team.
“So I just came to follow the test and have some meetings and see everyone at Team LeMans, because last time I saw them was before my accident."
The 22-year-old added: “We are in talks to some of the Super Formula teams. So I’m confident. I’d love to be racing in Super Formula.
"There are also other series I’m looking at, the right package that fits my [F1] schedule [with Haas] and obviously in a competitive ride.”
Pietro Fittipaldi, Team LeMans
Photo by: Tomohiro Yoshita
Fittipaldi had earlier stated that his revised IndyCar schedule would have allowed him to take part in the Super Formula decider in October and has now revealed that LeMans chose to retain his substitute Tom Dillmann to maintain continuity within the team.
Dillmann was originally due to take part in only two races that didn’t clash with Fittipaldi’s original IndyCar or WEC commitments, but ended up contesting almost the whole season after the Brazilian’s crash.
“I wanted to continue in Super Formula, but the only problem is I was also racing in IndyCar,” Fittipaldi said. “So when I had my accident I had to change my IndyCar schedule.
“When I changed my schedule, I wasn’t able to do Super Formula - I had too many clashes. But I was able to do the last race in Suzuka but the team they wanted to keep a consistent driver, the same driver.
“So it didn’t make sense for me to come to do the last race. So it was unfortunate that I couldn’t continue.”
From the editor, also read:
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Maini completes maiden Super Formula test
Next article 'Hot Stove League': How Super Formula's 2019 grid could look
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Rachit Thukral
Into the unknown: What to expect from WEC's Barcelona debut
WEC
WEC
Barcelona
12 h
Into the unknown: What to expect from WEC's Barcelona debut
Jorge Martin: “I don’t feel I will struggle anymore” in MotoGP title run-in
MotoGP
MotoGP
Indonesian GP
14 h
Jorge Martin: “I don’t feel I will struggle anymore” in MotoGP title run-in
More from
Pietro Fittipaldi
Pietro Fittipaldi is fueled by 5-Hour Energy and lots of carbs
Sponsored
Sponsored
Indianapolis 500
Pietro Fittipaldi is fueled by 5-Hour Energy and lots of carbs
Rahal encouraged despite limited running in Indy 500 Open Test
IndyCar
IndyCar
Indianapolis 500 Open test
Rahal encouraged despite limited running in Indy 500 Open Test
Sato returning to Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing for Indy 500
IndyCar
IndyCar
Indianapolis 500
Sato returning to Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing for Indy 500
Latest news
Spire, Chris Gabehart reject Joe Gibbs Racing premise on deleted texts
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
21 min
Spire, Chris Gabehart reject Joe Gibbs Racing premise on deleted texts
Ricky Stenhouse explains his side of Michael McDowell conflict
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
4 h
Ricky Stenhouse explains his side of Michael McDowell conflict
Barnes: Why IndyCar’s updated licensing system fails its own integrity test
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 5 h
Barnes: Why IndyCar’s updated licensing system fails its own integrity test
Why NASCAR is not penalizing Stenhouse, McDowell for post-race theatrics
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
6 h
Why NASCAR is not penalizing Stenhouse, McDowell for post-race theatrics
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe