Antonio Pizzonia’s slim hope of resurrecting his F1 career may have been dealt a final, fatal blow.
Pizzonia last raced in F1 two years ago and was trying to use GP2 as a route back to the top.
But rumours suggest he is about to be replaced and Giancarlo Fisichella’s team FMS International by Venezuelan Ernesto Viso.
Pizzonia raced sporadically in F1 between 2002 and 2005 for Jaguar and Williams.
Ironically fellow former F1 driver Timo Glock is leading the series that Lewis Hamilton won last year. Glock started a handful of races for Jordan in 2004.
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Tags: f1 / formula one / formula 1 / grand prix / motor sport
Alianora La Canta
20th June 2007, 19:58
You can tell the traditional mid-season F3000/GP2 conveyor belt’s about to begin, can’t you?
It’s not the first time that FMS has sacked a driver mid-season in its short time in GP2 (when it decides a driver isn’t compatible with it, it’s even more prone to changing that driver than other GP2 teams), and Pizzonia’s performance has been rather less than stellar this year, so this rumour is worryingly plausible. And if it turns out to be true, there is no way back for Pizzonia. Maybe Antonio just needs a different environment (we know he doesn’t suit every racing environment, as the Jaguar debacle demonstrated), but it is unlikely that anyone in the F1 paddock will take him seriously again even if he thrives at some other GP2 team.
Ben
20th June 2007, 21:25
I recently saw a DVD of F3 in 2000 and Pizzonia was simply dominant. He has the talent, but is clearly highly dependent on his team environment. A lost talent
Number 38
22nd June 2007, 5:57
Pizzonia WAS a talent from day one and his demise is almost solely the fault of foul mouth Mark Webber and the media who addored him (at the time). Pizzonia’s last four races for Jaguar were placed 10th, 10th, 10th and 10th, If Davidson could do that in today’s Super Aguri (a similar mediocre car) we’d be worshipping him. Pizzonia was trashed. He was a chart topper when testing for Williams and Sir Frank threw him away when he took on Heidfeld to appease his German engine supplier (at the time).
I remember he was Fastest time of Day at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2004. He could have been a great driver.
From then on Pizzonia just bounced from one bad car to another and today he may as well return to Brazil and sell Fords at the family dealership!
It’s too bad but he’s not the only good driver to have missed his calling. Many do.