Tuesday 21 July 2009

Top Ten Formula One Drivers, 9: Emerson Fittipaldi

  • Season Points Av. 26
  • Best Championship Finishes. 1st (x2), 2nd (x2)
  • Average Constructor Placing over Career. 3.7
  • 14 wins from 6 poles

In 1970 Fittipaldi won in his debut season, but struggled to make the most of this and move on in the second year. Getting a good car in the Lotus of 1972 he won 5 races and the title in his third season. In 1973, partnered by the super-fast Swede Ronnie Peterson who took nine poles, Fittipaldi won the inner team battle at Lotus to finish second to Jackie Stewart in the Tyrell. Fittipaldi joined Mclaren in 1974, a season in which the Ferrari was the quickest car on the grid with 10/15 poles, yet Fittipaldi won three races against the odds and took the title. In 1975 he stretched his run of top two championship finishes to four consecutive years with 2 wins and four 2nds.

Then at the height of his racing powers he left to start his own team with brother Wilson. These were a series of frustrating and stressful years in which Fittipaldi wound down the last 5 years of his career in a poor car, only alleviated by a podium in his final season in the United States West Grand Prix. This reduces his constructor average to a poor 3.7. It must be considered that given four years in a good car he always finished first or runner up and therefore deserves a place amongst the top ten. After this Emerson went to US racing and achieved considerable success showing that he still had the skill if given the car.

No comments:

Post a Comment