On the track that saw him face the most dangerous side of motorsport, Enzo Fittipaldi claimed his first victory in Formula 2. Between the pride of having succeeded, with a seven-second lead, and the passion for this world that the Brazilian exudes, there lies all his resilience. Giving up is not an option, and Enzo Fittipaldi in Jeddah is the proof.
Enzo Fittipaldi doesn't say much once he’s under the podium in Jeddah. He stands there, in front of the cameras, with eyes full of tears and trembling hands. His first Formula 2 victory decided to arrive precisely in one of the most sensitive periods of his life, given the recent passing of his uncle Wilson Fittipaldi, and on the circuit where the young Brazilian experienced one of the most frightening moments of his career. In 2021, Jeddah was the cursed scene of a terrible accident involving him and Theo Pourchaire. A wall in front of him, a brutal stop at the start of the Saturday night race: Pourchaire's car doesn't start, remaining motionless on the Arabian grid, and gets violently hit from behind by Fittipaldi's car. On the pit wall, Pietro, his older brother, leans over the track trying to catch Enzo's gaze and to erase any negative sensation.
Probably the heart of every spectator of that race skipped more than a beat once the lights went out. Endless waits before reassurance from the paddock that the young Brazilian involved was safe and sound, although with some bruises and an imminent ankle operation, but still alert. It was an unforgettable afternoon in Saudi Arabia, which still contributes to the strange sensation that every enthusiast feels once the circus of Formula 1 races there. A track that is disliked, feared, and reminds of how dangerous motorsport can be.
An insidious but fast track, which requires the precision of a genius and the highest concentration possible. Difficult to master, especially at the dawn of a season full of uncertainties and doubts, with a new car and a new team. Enzo Fittipaldi came to the starting line with a hunger for success, the kind that is typical and visible in his eyes at the start of basically every race weekend, and with little satisfaction from the Bahrain round, the first of the 2024 season, which saw him far from the positions most wanted by the Brazilian. Therefore, the Jeddah round was perfect for a fresh start. And the nephew of the two-time Formula 1 champion Emerson Fittipaldi didn’t waste any time, showing a pace almost unpredictable before the start of the race. Certainly, on Friday, Enzo didn't do badly, as he stepped on the podium for the first time of the season, but at the same time, the determination shown once the lights of the Feature race were off is what set him apart from the rest of his competitors.
An intelligent strategy and a perfect tire management led him to be the most balanced driver on track, and after several chaos and race neutralizations due to incidents here and there, the Tubarãozinho, as he’s called in Brazil, managed to take the lead of the race. Author of a double overtake at the first chicane, something incredible even just to think about, the Brazilian seized his first victory in Formula 2. A victory that tastes like redemption, on the circuit that first left him with scars and then with one of the most beautiful memories of his career.
When Enzo manages to speak, he dedicates everything to his uncle Wilson Fittipaldi, who passed away a few weeks earlier. A gesture that reminds us of how close the Brazilian family is and how it always carries its value in motorsport in plain sight. Something that tells more than a thousand other gestures by the young talent, among other things part of the Red Bull Junior Team. As if the story that began with that ugly incident on the same grid where Enzo Fittipaldi celebrated his first victory finds its happy ending, the second round of Formula 2 is already writing one of the most exciting stories of the season. Because seeing a young driver on the highest step of the podium so emotional for his first victory reminds us of how exciting this sport can be. From overtakes to celebrations on the podium, to the values it carries.
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