Fittipaldi

Fittipaldi Automotive, often known by its Copersucar sponsorship in its early years, was the ambitious Formula 1 project of two-time World Champion Emerson Fittipaldi and his brother Wilson. In a bold and patriotic move, Emerson left the front-running McLaren team at the height of his career to drive for the family's Brazilian-backed outfit.

The gamble largely failed to deliver on track. Although the team scored points and the occasional strong result, including a second place, it was never competitive enough to justify Emerson's sacrifice, and his own career suffered as a result.

After absorbing the remnants of the Wolf team and several seasons of struggle, the Fittipaldi team ran out of money and closed at the start of the 1980s.

The Fittipaldi team is a poignant story of patriotism over pragmatism, as a world champion gambled his career on a national project that could not match his talent. Admirable in ambition but unfulfilled in results, it remains a notable example of the romance and risk of running one's own team.