Wilson Fittipaldi Jr.former pilot of Formula 1, died this Friday (23) in a hospital in the south of São Paulo. He had been hospitalized since the end of last year after suffering a cardiac arrest and succumbing to complications. The news was confirmed by the Brazilian Automobile Confederation.
“It is with immense pain that the Brazilian Automobile Confederation records the death of Wilson Fittipaldi Jr., this Friday, 23rd, in the city of São Paulo, after 60 days of hospitalization. At 80 years old, Wilsinho passed away peacefully and surrounded by all the love he deserved throughout his life”, highlighted the entity.
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The former pilot suffered cardiac arrest after choking on a piece of meat during Christmas lunch. At the time, on Wilson’s own social media, his wife, Rita Reis Fittipaldi, reported that he needed to be resuscitated.
“At Christmas lunch, Wilsinho choked on a piece of meat and had a cardiac arrest, he was resuscitated and is sedated and intubated, we are waiting for him to wake up, he has a difficult post-surgical history of post-sedative recovery. One day at a time, let’s wait”, wrote Rita that day.
Discover Wilson’s career in F1
Wilson Fittipaldi Jr., 80 years old, is the older brother of the two-time world champion Emerson Fittipaldi. The two started in motorsport in the 60s.
Wilson arrived in Formula 1 in 1972 and remained a driver for two seasons. During the period, his best result was 5th place in the German GP.
In the biggest category of motorsport, Wilson and Emerson also created a 100% Brazilian team, Copersucar-Fittipaldi, which was in action in the late 70s and early 80s.
Check out the statement from the Brazilian Automobile Confederation
It is with immense pain that the Brazilian Automobile Confederation records the death of Wilson Fittipaldi Jr., this Friday, 23rd, in the city of São Paulo, after 60 days of hospitalization. At 80 years old, Wilsinho passed away serenely and surrounded by all the love he deserved throughout his life.
Even with poor health in recent years, he attended the São Paulo Formula 1 Grand Prix last November, an occasion in which he was revered by motorists of several generations. Still, he was able to reunite with his closest family and friends on Christmas Day last year, when he celebrated his birthday. An incident that occurred that same day required his hospitalization.
The CBA pays tribute not only to former driver Wilson Fittipaldi Jr., but to this legitimate heritage of Brazilian Motorsport. He brought together talent, vision of the future and boldness to take Brazil’s name to a level never imagined. In a project that was certainly ahead of its time, he led the emergence of the first Brazilian Formula 1 team.
Exactly 50 years after starting work, which culminated in the debut of the Copersucar-Fittipaldi FD01 at the 1975 Argentine GP, there has never been a national undertaking that came close to Wilsinho’s historic achievement. And, presumably, it will never happen again.
Our drivers were already shining on the international Formula 1 circuit, including himself, in his brief career as a Brabham driver. But nothing reached the sporting and technical significance of the Brazilian Formula 1 team, which only made its commander greater and guaranteed its place in the history of Brazilian and world motorsport.
Wilsinho leaves us physically at this moment and rests in the arms of the Lord. The pain of the loss is immense, but praise be to the country and the sport that, with great pride, had a warrior of such magnitude in their ranks. We pray to God to support and comfort his family, friends and fans.