Formula 1 legend Emerson Fittipaldi has said that the FIA Formula E World Championship is following a “growing” trend of motorsport’s rising popularity.
The two-time World Champion was at the Anhembi Sambadrome to wave the chequered flag at the São Paulo E-Prix, the first round of the 11th season, and was present at a small media gathering ahead of the race that included Motorsport Week.
Fittipaldi said the series, in his opinion, will continue to see a rise in fandom, with a helping hand with the new fanbases F1 is gaining.
“I was in the first race in China [2014], and I think the way Formula E is going to go globally is creating a big motor race,” he told Motorsport Week.
“With the new era of Formula 1, it’s growing everywhere. I was at the Brazilian Grand Prix – it was sold out.
“There was no place to put a hospitality centre in Brazil, there was no square metres to sell to sponsors, and I think motor racing globally is going to grow up, from karting, all the categories, and I think with Netflix, and with everything that’s happening in England now, Lewis driving for Ferrari, can you imagine?
“I live in Italy now, I know Italy is going to stop to watch Lewis driving [for] Ferrari.”
“Formula E is following this big growing of motorsport globally, and a lot of young drivers are coming.
“My son [Emerson Jr] was testing yesterday in Barcelona, just landed here, he’s 17 years old, [he’s] crazy to be a Formula 1 driver.”
Fittipaldi told GEN4 car to match F2
Fittipaldi revealed that he has heard that the next generation of Formula E car, that will debut in 2026, has high levels of competition and comparable speeds to other championships around certain circuits, and also praised the skill levels of FE drivers due to the nature of the cars.
“I mean, there’s a new motivation globally, and I was talking to Alberto [Longo, co-founder of FE] this morning, with the 26 car [GEN4], that’s going to be even much faster.
“He told me that it’s going to be faster than the Formula 2 car in Monaco. Very exciting.
“If you look at the cars going by on the street, it’s very impressive on the streets, the speed that they go.
“Formula E, with no telemetry, still the driver has to give information, has to feel the car on the ass – all the coaching.
“Formula E is trying still to keep sport more evident for the drivers. They are very good drivers.”
