Emerson Fittipaldi joins the Beyond The Grid podcast to reflect on his remarkable story in the sport.
May 06, 2026 11:36am UTC
Why would a double F1 World Champion at the height of their powers walk away from a winning car? For the 1976 season, Emerson Fittipaldi stunned the sport by leaving McLaren and setting up his own team. He wanted a challenge, and he certainly got one.
Fifty years later, Fittipaldi tells Beyond The Grid host Tom Clarkson why he and his brother Wilson launched Copersucar, a team based in their home country of Brazil.
He also remembers the dramatic events that led him to start his own team – winning the World Championship with Lotus and considering retirement before winning a second title with McLaren – and the conversations with Ferrari which could have changed the course of his career.
Fittipaldi’s passion for F1 still burns bright: he drove his championship-winning M23 in Miami at a McLaren showrun, keeps a close eye on every Grand Prix, and shares his views on Kimi Antonelli’s impressive start to the 2026 season.
To listen to this week’s episode, hit play on the audio player above or visit your preferred podcasting platform. You can also explore the Beyond The Grid library for a huge selection of past episodes spanning every decade of F1.