Formula 1 World Drivers' Championship (Emerson Fittipaldi, 1974)

Lore & Background

Fittipaldi left Lotus to sign with the promising McLaren team for 1974. Driving the highly efficient McLaren M23, he had three victories in 1974, reached the podium four other times, and beat out Clay Regazzoni in a close battle for his second championship.

In Their Own Story

The engine note of the M23 was a distinct, high-pitched scream that echoed off the concrete walls of the pit lane at Watkins Glen. Emerson Fittipaldi adjusted his mirrors, the smell of unburnt fuel and hot rubber filling the cockpit. He knew the math better than anyone; he didn't need to win. He just needed to finish fourth. The Ferrari of Clay Regazzoni was right behind him, a red predator hunting for points that could steal the crown. As the lights went out, Emerson held his line, protecting his position with the calm precision of a man who had already done the hard work. One lap at a time, he navigated the hairpin and the long back straight, ignoring the roar of the crowd and the pressure mounting in the cockpit. When he crossed the finish line in fourth place, the timing screens flickered green. The M23 had done its job. The Brazilian raised his hand, not in triumph, but in relief. He was a World Champion.

Reader's Guide

Fittipaldi's 1974 wins were in Belgium, Canada, and the United States. He did not win the Brazilian Grand Prix that year; that race was won by Denny Hulme. The 1973 World Drivers' Champion was Jackie Stewart, not Denny Hulme.

Did You Know?

• Fittipaldi's 1974 title helped McLaren win their first Constructors' Championship.
• He had been the youngest F1 world champion at the time, aged 25, a record he set in 1972 and held for 33 years.