Pietro Fittipaldi was in discussions with Haas about a role in its F1 programme before his leg-breaking crash last weekend.
The 21-year-old, who is the grandson of two-times F1 world champion Emerson Fittipaldi, suffered fractures to both legs when his SMP Racing BR1 LMP1 hit the barriers at Raidillon during qualifying for the Spa Six Hours.Team principal Guenther Steiner told media including RaceFans at the Circuit de Catalunya the team had spoken to him about a role before the crash but that nothing had been signed.
“We just started talking about it to see what he is doing. He contacted us, I know his grandfather – everyone knows his grandfather pretty well! – and we said can we do something together. We said ‘let’s see’ and then what happened happened.”
The crash has put discussions on hold but Steiner indicated a deal could happen once Fittipaldi has recovered from his injuries.
“First of all it’s most important that he gets well again. I think he’s well on the way to get better so that’s the most important thing.”
Haas already has two development drivers, Santino Feurricci and Arjun Maini, who are racing in Formula Two this year. Fittipaldi, the reigning Formula V8 3.5 champion, was conducting a partial IndyCar campaign alongside his WEC duties before his crash.
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kpcart
10th May 2018, 13:12
Racing car drivers and motorcycle riders come back quick from broken bones. They are fit young adults, and the human body heals broken bones. Hope he gets another shot at f1 t
Joao (@johnmilk)
10th May 2018, 14:19
That crash should be investigated deeply, both cars had problems on Eau Rouge. They must have some sort of aerodynamic flaw in them
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
11th May 2018, 4:37
I never got to see the replaybfor the 2nd crash there nor the explanation for the ford crash aswell. Above all I’d like to know why did the guy on the ford walk away unharmed and Pietro badly hurt. The cornering differential of the Ford and the SMP is virtually non existent, they do differ a lot on top speed. Its been evident that crash safety is a lot lower on prototypes than f1 cars and the gt’s aswell.
Rui (@colinmcrui)
12th May 2018, 0:20
The car just went airborne while reaching the top of the hill… Definitely something wrong with the aero.
MB (@muralibhats)
10th May 2018, 19:37
Why does Steiner need to reveal this information? IMO there seems to be lot going behind closed doors and this is just to put pressure maybe and also get some press talking about his team.
pastaman (@)
11th May 2018, 12:43
Gonna take a stab in the dark on this one… maybe he was asked about it?
MB (@muralibhats)
11th May 2018, 15:07
Why him.. Out of the blue!
Alianora La Canta (@alianora-la-canta)
11th May 2018, 20:42
Maybe he hopes the deal will still be on so Pietro can help with development in the second half of the season?