Brazil’s Enzo Fittipaldi, winner of Formula 1’s first Virtual Grand Prix of 2021 at the Red Bull Ring with HAAS, will be bidding to follow up that success in the real world this season, after announcing his return to the Formula 3 grid with Charouz Racing System.

Grandson of two-time F1 champion Emerson, Fittipaldi will be contesting his second year of F3, switching from German outfit HWA RACELAB to Czech-based Charouz on the back of a season where he scored 27 points, with a best finish of P4 at Mugello.

During the off-season Fittipaldi competed for HAAS alongside his brother Pietro in the F1 Virtual Grands Prix, winning the opening round from ninth on the grid and beating the likes of Nicholas Latifi, Alex Albon and Stoffel Vandoorne.

A former member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, the 19-year-old announced his split from the programme in February and signed up for a season in the Indy Pro 2000 Championship with Andretti. The Brazilian has now reaffirmed his desire to one day reach F1 and joins compatriot Caio Collet on the F3 grid for 2021. The pair will have hopes of emulating fellow Brazilians Felipe Drugovich, Gianluca Petecof and Guilherme Samaia who are all competing in Formula 2 this season.

“I am really happy for the chance that team owner Antonin Charouz and team manager Bob Vavřík gave me,” said Fittipaldi. “It will definitely be a challenge since I didn’t do any of the pre-season testing but I will do my best with this opportunity. I’m looking forward to the first race weekend in Barcelona!”

Winner of the 2018 Italian Formula 4 Championship, Fittipaldi was also a title contender in ADAC F4 that season, coming third, before finishing as runner-up to Mercedes junior Frederik Vesti in Formula Regional European the following year.   

The 19-year-old will be joined at Charouz by 2020 title contender Logan Sargeant and rookie Reshad De Gerus.