Antonio Pizzonia

From 1991 to 1996 he competed in various karting series. In 1997 he moved to Britain and competed in Formula Vauxhall Junior; Pizzonia placed second, and won the Winter Festival. In 1998, in addition to taking the Championship in F-Vauxhall Junior, he won the Formula Renault Winter Festival. His 1999 season was even more successful, winning the British F-Renault series and finishing second in its European counterpart. In 2000, Pizzonia took 3 wins on his way to winning the British Formula Three Championship.

Related Topics:
1991 - 1996 - 1997 - Britain - Vauxhall - 1998 - Renault - 1999 - European - 2000 - British Formula Three Championship

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For 2001, Pizzonia switched to the Formula 3000 series, winning one race and finishing 2nd in the championship. He was then hired as test driver for Williams; however, he continued in F3000, placing 8th. In 2003 Pizzonia was hired by the Jaguar F1 team to partner Mark Webber. Following a string of poor results, he was dropped midway through the season and replaced by Minardi's Justin Wilson.

Related Topics:
2001 - Formula 3000 - 2003 - Jaguar - Mark Webber - Minardi - Justin Wilson

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In 2004 he returned to Williams as test driver. Before the German Grand Prix, it was announced that Pizzonia would take over for Marc Gené, who had been filling in for the injured Ralf Schumacher. At the German Grand Prix, he finished 7th to take his first 2 career points; he repeated the feat at the Hungarian Grand Prix. In Belgium, he briefly led an F1 race for the first time, but failed to finish the race due to mechanical problems. He claimed a further 2 points in Italy, but with the announcement of Ralf Schumacher's return for the Chinese Grand Prix, Pizzonia's racing was over for the year.

Related Topics:
2004 - German Grand Prix - Marc Gené - Hungarian Grand Prix - Belgium - Italy - Chinese Grand Prix

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Prior to the 2005 season, Pizzonia was in a virtual shoot-out with German Nick Heidfeld for the second race seat alongside Webber. Despite Pizzonia's experience with the team and financial support from Petrobras, Heidfeld was given the seat. He would have again been teamed with Webber, and Mark is said to have advised the team against hiring Antonio, who he believed was not fast enough.

Related Topics:
2005 - German - Nick Heidfeld - Petrobras

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Pizzonia is still employed at Williams as a test driver, and when Heidfeld complained of headaches after being concussed in a crash during the Friday Practice Session at Monza, Pizzonia gained the chance to race. Having not entered a F1 race since the 2004 Italian Grand Prix, the Brazilian qualified 16th, coming through the field to emulate his 2004 race result — picking up 7th place and 2 points. He then raced in the 2005 Belgian Grand Prix. where he incurred a fine for taking out 2nd placed Juan Pablo Montoya just a few laps from the end. Pizzonia also took the drive in the 2005 Brazilian Grand Prix, but his race was over before the first corner after colliding with David Coulthard and teammate Mark Webber.

Related Topics:
Concussed - Monza - 2004 Italian Grand Prix - 2005 Belgian Grand Prix - Juan Pablo Montoya - 2005 Brazilian Grand Prix - David Coulthard - Mark Webber

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It remains to be seen whether Pizzonia will drive for Williams in the final 2 races of the 2005 season, while he is also a contender for a race drive for the 2006 season.

Related Topics:
2005 - 2006

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