Emerson Fittipaldi names 27-win driver the ‘toughest’ opponent he ever faced racing in Formula 1

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Emerson Fittipaldi was the first Brazilian driver ever to win a Formula 1 world championship.

The 1972 and 1974 drivers’ championships were closely fought, but Emerson Fittipaldi came out on top and became the first South American to win a title since the great Juan Manuel Fangio.

He added his name to the list of drivers who won championships with different constructors, securing a title each with Lotus and McLaren.

His F1 career finished in 1980 with 14 wins and 35 podiums, but his championship credentials fell away as soon as he started racing for his brother’s Copersucar team in 1976.

Fittipaldi finished twice in the championship in 1973 and 1975, but was denied those two titles by two of the greatest drivers in F1 history.

The latter was the amazing Niki Lauda, but Jackie Stewart was the driver who denied Fittipaldi three consecutive titles, and the Brazilian has spoken about his admiration for the Scottish legend.

READ MORE: Emerson Fittipaldi names 24-win F1 ‘maestro’ as his ‘number one idol’ in Formula 1

Emerson Fittipaldi names Jackie Stewart as his ‘toughest’ ever opponent in Formula 1

Fittipaldi was being interviewed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and asked about his time in F1, he said: “Well, first, I want to thank God for being here today on this beautiful event.

“When I left Brazil, Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart, Denny Hulme, Bruce McLaren, all my idols, and when I was racing against Jackie, it was fantastic.

“Everybody asked, I said I was lucky to race against many drivers of three different generations, and they asked who was the toughest one?

“It’s the one on my left [Stewart], it’s true!”

Stewart was also at the event, and asked about his memories of racing Fittipaldi and said: “Being upset!

“We had a wonderful time, the worst thing of all was when we raced in Brazil, and then there was nobody in Brazil but this man alone!

“So, no, we had a lovely time together, a great time together, we did a lot of racing together, that was the main thing.”

READ MORE: Jackie Stewart recalls the ‘genius’ way his wife helped him to win three F1 titles

Emerson Fittipaldi has his say on the 2025 Formula 1 drivers’ championship

There were plenty of legendary drivers at the Goodwood Festival of Speed who were asked about their time in Formula 1 and the current season.

Stewart admitted he was glad to retire before having to race Alain Prost, but was understandably very appreciative of the praise he received from Fittipaldi.

Prost went on to talk about his role in Oscar Piastri’s development, and it’s the McLaren star who currently leads the championship this season.

Fittipaldi thinks Piastri and Lando Norris are under a lot of pressure compared to Red Bull star Max Verstappen, even if the Dutchman no longer feels he’s in championship contention.

Piastri has an eight-point lead over Norris going into the second half of the season, and Fittipaldi knows all about this kind of pressure.

The Brazilian won his second title at the final race of the season in 1974, beating Ferrari’s Clay Regazzoni.

His 1972 title was more straightforward, wrapping it up with two races to spare, even though Stewart won back-to-back Grand Prix at the end of the campaign to add to his 27 F1 victories.