Pietro Fittipaldi

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Fittipaldi first tested a Formula One car on 27 November 2018 during the post-season test at the Yas Marina Circuit, driving for Haas. In November 2018, Haas confirmed him as its official 2019 test driver. He tested the car at the first pre-season test at Barcelona in February 2019. In April 2019, Fittipaldi took part in the 2019 Bahrain Young Driver Test, before making an appearance at the mid-season test at Catalunya. On 30 November 2020, it was announced that Fittipaldi would race for Haas in the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix, replacing the injured Romain Grosjean who was hospitalised after an accident at the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix in which he suffered burns to his hands and ankles. This made him the first grandson of a Formula One driver to become a Formula One driver himself. Fittipaldi started his debut Grand Prix in last and finished the race seventeenth, the last of the remaining drivers. Haas team principal Guenther Steiner commented on Fittipaldi's debut: 'I think Pietro did a great job, considering he drove the car for the last time a year ago.' Fittipaldi remarked that it is difficult for a driver to make it to Formula One, and he was glad to have finished his first race. Fittipaldi again stood in for Grosjean at the season finale in Abu Dhabi. Fittipaldi qualified nineteenth and was elevated to seventeenth on the grid due to other drivers collecting penalties. In the race, he suffered a slow pit stop and again finished last of the running drivers in nineteenth place.

In Their Own Story

The call came on 30 November 2020. Romain Grosjean was in hospital after his fiery crash at the Bahrain Grand Prix, and Haas needed a driver for the Sakhir Grand Prix. Pietro Fittipaldi, the team's reserve driver since 2019, was the man. He hadn't driven an F1 car in a year. 'I think Pietro did a great job, considering he drove the car for the last time a year ago,' said team principal Guenther Steiner. Fittipaldi started last and finished seventeenth, the last of the remaining drivers. 'It is difficult for a driver to make it to Formula One,' Fittipaldi remarked, 'and I was glad to have finished my first race.' He raced again at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, qualifying nineteenth and finishing nineteenth after a slow pit stop. After the race, Fittipaldi stated that he would 'like to still keep a foot in Formula One' as a reserve driver in 2021. In February 2021 it was confirmed that he would remain in his role as a Haas test and reserve driver for the 2021 season. Fittipaldi was retained in the role for the 2022 season. He drove the Haas VF-22 during the first day of 2022 pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit, substituting for Nikita Mazepin after Mazepin's contract was terminated. Fittipaldi was replaced for the remainder of the test by Kevin Magnussen. Fittipaldi was actively considered by Haas for Mazepin's seat in the race team but ultimately Magnussen was chosen over him. Fittipaldi drove the VF-22 in the free practices of the Mexico City and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix and also took part in post-season testing in Abu Dhabi. Haas retained Fittipaldi's roles for the 2023 season. He drove the VF-23 during the young drivers' test. Fittipaldi continued in his role as reserve driver for a sixth straight season in 2024, sharing this role with Oliver Bearman. He drove the VF-24 alongside Bearman during the Pirelli tyre test at Silverstone following the British Grand Prix.

Reader's Guide

Pietro Fittipaldi joined Haas as its official 2019 test driver in November 2018. His role involved testing the car at pre-season tests, such as the first pre-season test at Barcelona in February 2019, and participating in young driver and mid-season tests, including the 2019 Bahrain Young Driver Test and the mid-season test at Catalunya. As a reserve driver since 2019, his most notable duty came in 2020 when he replaced an injured Romain Grosjean for two Grands Prix: the Sakhir Grand Prix and the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. He made his debut at the Sakhir Grand Prix, starting last and finishing seventeenth. In Abu Dhabi, he qualified nineteenth and finished nineteenth. Fittipaldi remained a reserve driver for Haas through the 2024 season, sharing the role with Oliver Bearman in 2024. He also drove the Haas VF-22 during the first day of 2022 pre-season testing, substituting for Nikita Mazepin after Mazepin's contract was terminated. Fittipaldi was actively considered by Haas for Mazepin's race seat but Kevin Magnussen was chosen over him. He drove the VF-22 in free practices at the Mexico City and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix, and took part in post-season testing in Abu Dhabi. In 2023, he drove the VF-23 during the young drivers' test. In 2024, he drove the VF-24 alongside Oliver Bearman during the Pirelli tyre test at Silverstone following the British Grand Prix. On 1 October 2025, it was announced that Fittipaldi will become a development driver for the upcoming Cadillac F1 Team, which is set to debut in 2026.

Did You Know?

• Fittipaldi is the first grandson of a Formula One driver to become a Formula One driver himself.
• He made his F1 debut at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix, replacing an injured Romain Grosjean who had suffered burns to his hands and ankles.
• Fittipaldi drove the Haas VF-22 during the first day of 2022 pre-season testing after Nikita Mazepin's contract was terminated.
• He was actively considered by Haas for Mazepin's race seat in 2022, but Kevin Magnussen was chosen over him.
• On 1 October 2025, it was announced that Fittipaldi will become a development driver for the Cadillac F1 Team, debuting in 2026.