Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Pietro Fittipaldi was in talks with Haas F1 team before WEC crash

Pietro Fittipaldi was discussing a possible Haas Formula 1 test before the huge World Endurance Championship crash that left him with broken legs

The Brazilian fractured his left leg and broke his right ankle when he crashed his DragonSpeed LMP1 car at Eau Rouge during qualifying for last weekend's Spa opener.

Fittipaldi, who is combining his WEC programme with a selected schedule of IndyCar races, is due to begin treatment from doctors in Indianapolis and has targeted the US series' late-July race at Mid-Ohio for his comeback.

Speaking on Thursday ahead of this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix, Haas team principal Gunther Steiner revealed he had started talking to Fittipaldi about a possible F1 test.

"There was nothing set, we were talking about it and then the accident happened," said Steiner.

"He contacted us, I know his grandfather Emerson, they just said, 'Can we do something together?'

"We didn't stop talking [after the crash] but we stopped talk about [a test] because we don't know what can be done.

"He's well on the way to getting better. That's the most important thing for me."

Formula 2 racers Santino Ferrucci and Arjun Maini are on Haas's books as development drivers.

Asked if his talks with Fittipaldi involved a formal role with the team, Steiner stressed there was "no detail" discussed.

If Fittipaldi returns to IndyCar action in late-July it is highly unlikely he would be able to take part in the post-Hungarian GP test with Haas the following week.

Steiner said "anything" was possible in the future, adding: "I could say yes to everything or no to everything, because I don't know."

Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Red Bull's Horner: Verstappen has been 'over-eager' early in season
Next article Why F1's safety crusader thinks fans were robbed

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe