The two-time Formula 1 world champion, Emerson Fittipaldi, has shared his impressions after driving again his McLaren M23, the vehicle with which he won the 1974 championship. This emotional reunion took place during the celebrations of the 1000th Grand Prix of the McLaren team, held over the weekend of the Miami Grand Prix.
Fittipaldi could not hide his excitement while recalling the experience of getting back behind the wheel of such an iconic car. “It was exactly the same,” he expressed in a moment of reflection. “The cockpit, the steering position, the pedals… I never would have believed I would drive the M23 again through the streets of Miami, it was a fantastic feeling, surrounded by great champions from the history of McLaren and world champions”.
Despite the time that has passed since his last time driving this vehicle, Fittipaldi’s passion for this machine did not seem to have diminished. He highlighted that its weight was only 550 kilograms with a power of over 400 horsepower, resulting in an acceleration impression similar to that of some current Formula 1 cars. “I experienced a bit of wheel slip and incredible acceleration,” he shared, emphasizing the difference in grip with modern vehicles.
The weekend also provided Fittipaldi with the opportunity to look back and reflect on his journey with McLaren. “When I joined McLaren, I felt very motivated,” he said. “We were only about thirty people in the team, and Teddy Mayer, the team manager, was fully committed to winning the world championship. At that time, McLaren was about to become one of the best teams”.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
