Two-time Formula 1 champion Emerson Fittipaldi has described the emotional experience of being reunited with his iconic McLaren M23.
The reunion between the Brazilian driver and the machinery in which he secured the 1974 championship was part of the Woking outfit's 1000th grand prix celebrations during the Miami Grand Prix weekend.
"It was exactly the same," Fittipaldi told Tom Clarkson during an appearance on the F1 Beyond The Grid podcast.
"The cockpit, the steering wheel position, the pedals, and then go back to that cockpit. I never believed that one day I would drive the M23 on the streets of Miami, and it was a fantastic feeling, with all of the great champions from the history of McLaren and the world champions.
"It was an incredible event, very good for the commemoration of 1000 grands prix."
Despite it being almost 50 years since he last got behind the wheel of the M23, Fittipaldi's excitement about the championship-winning car doesn't seem to have diminished.
"It feels extremely good. Another impressive thing is that it is only 550 kilos, and we had over 400 horsepower. That means it was near 1 kilo per horsepower. I was spinning wheels and accelerating so much. The relationship was similar to a Formula 1 car now.
Emerson Fittipaldi
Emerson Fittipaldi
"Now the power-to-weight ratio is very similar, very impressive acceleration, but there was no grip. And there were a lot of spectators, it was an incredible event that McLaren organised, typical of Zak Brown."
The poignant weekend celebration also provided an opportunity for the 79-year-old to reflect on his relationship with McLaren.
"When I walked into McLaren, I felt a lot of motivation," he said when asked what the team was like back in 1974 and 1975.
"There were only like 30 people, the whole team, and Teddy Mayer, Alastair Caldwell was the team manager, was very much into trying to win the world championship. McLaren was on the edge to come as one of the best teams, and then I chose McLaren."
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