Pietro Fittpaldi, the young standout who ran a single season with Rahal Lanigan Letterman Racing, is on the fence about returning to his seat in the No. 30 Dallara Honda in March. It is widely speculated that Fittpaldi will join his younger brother Enzo at Arrow McLaren, who is scheduled to test with the team later this month. Enzo Fittpaldi took to social media on November 1 to thank team Principal Zak Brown and Tony Kanaan for the opportunity to test with the team.
He didn’t offer much information on whether Pietro would officially join him but remains optimistic. The official test with Arrow McLaren is set for November 19 at the Thermal Club in California. Pietro has brought immense talent to the racing world, competing in several categories, including the FIA World Endurance Championships, Formula 1, and IndyCar as of this year, where he plans to remain regardless of the team he races for, but will he decide to make a move?
Overview Of Pietro Fittpaldi’s Versatile Career
Pietro Fittpaldi began his racing career in carting in 2024. However, he is best known for his stint racing for Haas racing in the Formula 1 category, where he ran for five consecutive seasons as a test and reserve driver in 2023. Beyond this, the 27-year-old grandson of former F1 champ Emerson Fittpaldi has had quite a versatile career testing in VF 18 and 19 Formula 1 vehicles. The young standout even replaced Romain Grosjean for the last 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix after Grosjean sustained burns to his hands during the previous Bahrain Grand Prix.
While Fittpaldi would have preferred to get behind the wheel of the V-20 under different circumstances, the move ultimately got him noticed. Haas Racing was certain Pietro Fittpaldi was fully prepared to stand in Grosjean’s shoes as he’d been prepared for quite some time. The opportunity was the chance of a lifetime for the youngster whose aggressive driving style and swiftness on the track have proven his success time and time again. This success earned him 27 wins in several notable genres, including the IMSA Sportscar Championship, Stock Car Brasil, and NASCAR Whelen.
Even though he’s experienced great success in those areas, there’s still much work to do in IndyCar. The 27-year-old failed to secure a single win during his brief stint with Dale Coyne with Rick Ware Racing’s Indy team in 2021 and finally full-time for Rahal Lanigan Letterman Racing last season. After an upsetting season at RLL, Pietro Fittpaldi is hoping for a chance to test at Arrow McLaren with brother Enzo, even if it’s just to gain exposure.
Reasons For the Potential Move
When Pietro Fittpaldi initially joined Rahal Lanigan Letterman Racing in 2024 after taking a hiatus from IndyCar for over a year, he considered it a new beginning. It was a chance for the Brazilian driver to get back behind the wheel of an Indy Vehicle and prove he was better than he was during his part-time stint with Dale Coyne with Rick Ware Racing in 2021. He’s a massive fan of oval racing and wanted nothing more than to prove himself after trying to come to the sport in 2018 without success.
He wasn’t hesitant when Bobby Rahal offered him a full-time position at the beginning of the year. During the past season, he hoped he could take the team to new heights by pushing them back to the top of the rankings after their stagnant period with little to no wins. Pietro Fittpaldi would be unsuccessful in his attempt failing to bring a single win, pole, top 5, or 10 top-ten. He currently stands in 19th with 186 points, which could be why he is interested in testing with Arrow McLaren’s Zak Brown for 2025 alongside his brother.
The only positive takeaway from Pietro Fittpaldi’s time with Rahal Lanigan Letterman Racing is the experience he gained behind the wheel compared to Dale Coyne with Rick Ware. Fittpaldi also pushed up numbers after only earning 10 points, paying starts with DCR rising to 11 points and placing in 15th after his career upset at 26th. Could he turn the page with another team? If he does, it will likely not be with Arrow McLaren after Christian Lundgaard filled the final seat left empty by Alexander Rossi, but only time will tell.
Final Thoughts
Rumors swirl that Pietro Fittpaldi is considering joining his younger brother Enzo for a test at the Thermal Club in California with Arrow McLaren, and the question of his future with Rahal Lanigan Letterman Racing is hanging in the balance. With all three Arrow McLaren entries filled for the 2025 season, many question where Fittpaldi will wind up next season or if he’ll decide to stay with Bobby Rahal’s team for another season. Nonetheless, if he does choose to accept a potential invitation by Zak Brown to test, he and his brother will get a chance to prove themselves worthy of opportunities offered in the future.
