Wilson Fittipaldi Jr., a former Formula 1 driver and a prominent figure in the Brazilian motorsport community, passed away at the age of 80 on Friday due to complications arising from choking on food last Christmas, which resulted in a cardiac arrest.

Born in São Paulo in 1943, Fittipaldi’s passion for racing was ignited by his father, Wilson Fittipaldi Sr., a motorsport journalist and commentator. Fittipaldi Jr. initiated his racing journey in karting throughout the 1960s, but it wasn’t until 1972 that he made his Formula 1 debut with Brabham. Throughout the 1970s, he participated in 35 Formula 1 Grand Prix races, accumulating a total of three points.

Although frequently compared to his younger brother, two-time F1 world champion Emerson Fittipaldi, the siblings jointly established Fittipaldi-Copersucar, Brazil’s inaugural and sole Formula 1 team, in 1974. Despite encountering numerous challenges and scepticism, the team persevered, competing in 104 races. Fittipaldi retired as a competitive driver in 1976 to concentrate on managing the team, occasionally partaking in one-off driving events. Subsequently, he assumed the role of manager for his son Christian, who also competed in Formula 1 from 1992 to 1994.

In recent years, Fittipaldi remained active on social media, frequently sharing archival images from his early racing career and his attendance at racing events. His contributions significantly bolstered Brazil’s presence in the global motorsport arena, and his legacy transcends his achievements on the racetrack.