BEYOND THE GRID LEGENDS: Emerson Fittipaldi on when he shocked Formula 1

Why would a double F1 World Champion at the height of their powers walk away from a winning car? For the 1976 season, Emerson Fittipaldi stunned the sport by leaving McLaren and setting up his own team. He wanted a challenge, and he certainly got one.

Fifty years later, Fittipaldi tells Beyond The Grid host Tom Clarkson why he and his brother Wilson launched Copersucar, a team based in their home country of Brazil.

He also remembers the dramatic events that led him to start his own team – winning the World Championship with Lotus and considering retirement before winning a second title with McLaren, and the conversations with Ferrari which could have changed the course of his career.

Fittipaldi’s passion for F1 still burns bright, having driven his championship-winning M23 in Miami at a McLaren showrun. He also keeps a close eye on every Grand Prix, and gives his views on Kimi Antonelli’s impressive start to the 2026 season.

To listen to this week’s episode, simply hit go on the audio player above or click here to listen via your preferred podcasting platform.

You can also check out a huge selection of previous episodes – spanning every decade of F1 – in our dedicated Beyond The Grid library here.