Antônio Pizzonia
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Portuguese name Template:BLP sources Template:Infobox racing driver
Antônio Reginaldo Pizzonia Júnior (born 11 September 1980) is a Brazilian professional racing driver who has raced in Formula One and the Champ Car World Series. Born in Manaus, he started his car racing career in the Formula Vauxhall Junior series in 1997 and then progressed through various junior formulae, winning the Formula Vauxhall Junior Winter Festival in 1997, the Formula Vauxhall Junior and Formula Renault Winter Festival in 1998, the Formula Renault 2.0 UK in 1999, and the British Formula 3 Championship in 2000.<ref name=":0" />
For 2001 and 2002, he entered the Formula 3000, with his best championship finish being sixth in 2001. In 2003, he was signed by the Jaguar Formula One team, but following poor results, was released during the season. In 2004, he replaced the injured Ralf Schumacher at Williams in several events, securing his first Formula One points in the process.<ref name=":0" />
In 2005, he replaced Nick Heidfeld at Williams, but was released from his contract at the end of the season. Since then, he has competed in multiple series, such as the Champ Car World Series, the Superleague Formula, Stock Car Brasil, and the FIA GT1 World Championship.
Racing career
Pre-Formula One
From 1991 to 1996, Pizzonia 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 Formula Vauxhall Junior, he won the Formula Renault Winter Festival.
His 1999 season was even more successful, winning the Formula Renault 2.0 UK series and finishing second in the Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup. In 2000, Pizzonia took five wins on his way to winning the British Formula 3 Championship. For 2001, Pizzonia switched to the Formula 3000 series, winning one race and finishing sixth in the championship.<ref name=":1" />
Formula One
In 2002, Pizzonia was hired as test driver for Williams, but also continued in F3000, placing eighth. After impressive testing performances, he was signed by the Jaguar team to partner Mark Webber for 2003, replacing the axed Pedro de la Rosa<ref name="De la Rosa - Pizzonia Switch Decided Last Week">[1] Autosport 1 November 2002</ref> . However, following a string of poor results, he was dropped late in the season and replaced by Minardi's Justin Wilson.

In 2004 he returned to Williams as test driver. Before the German Grand Prix, it was announced that Pizzonia would take over from Marc Gené, who had been filling in for the injured Ralf Schumacher. At the German Grand Prix, he finished seventh to take his first two 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 a gearbox problem, whilst running in third place. He claimed a further two points in Italy (during which he achieved the fastest ever recorded top speed in a F1 race at the time, 369.9 km/h, until Juan Pablo Montoya eclipsed this record the following year), but with the announcement of Ralf Schumacher's return for the Chinese Grand Prix, Pizzonia's racing was over for the year.
Prior to the 2005 season, Pizzonia was in a virtual shoot-out with German Nick Heidfeld for the second race seat at Williams alongside Webber. Despite Pizzonia's experience with the team and financial support from Petrobras, Heidfeld was given the seat.
Pizzonia was 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 an F1 race since the 2004 Italian Grand Prix, the Brazilian qualified sixteenth, coming through the field to emulate his 2004 race result — picking up seventh place and two points. He then raced in the Belgian Grand Prix. where he incurred a fine for taking out second placed Juan Pablo Montoya just a few laps from the end. Pizzonia also took the drive in the Brazilian Grand Prix, but his race was over before the first corner after taking out his own teammate Mark Webber resulting from a collision with David Coulthard.
Despite some speculation that GP2 champion Nico Rosberg would be given an opportunity in the last two races of the season, Pizzonia completed the season for Williams. He retired from the Japanese Grand Prix early after spinning off, and retired from (but was classified as a finisher in) the Chinese Grand Prix after a puncture. Having been replaced by Nico Rosberg for 2006 and failing to find a seat elsewhere, Pizzonia's Formula One career was over.
Post-Formula One
Template:Expand section In 2006, Pizzonia drove for Paul Gentilozzi's Rocketsports team in the Champ Car World Series' Long Beach Grand Prix and returned to the team towards the end of the season for races where Tõnis Kasemets did not have sponsorship to race.
In 2007, Pizzonia was racing for Fisichella Motor Sport in the GP2 series.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> In May, he was dropped in favour of Adam Carroll after only scoring one point in five races. After that, he returned to Brazil and entered into competition in Stock Car Brasil, a Brazilian national championship, from July.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He has competed in the series every year since then, and has also raced in Superleague Formula (SC Corinthians) and the FIA GT1 World Championship.
In 2012, Pizzonia made a one-off guest appearance in the Auto GP World Series when the championship visited the Brazilian Curitiba circuit. Driving for the Ombra Racing team, he won both races, immediately slotting himself into ninth position in the championship.
In 2014 and 2015, Pizzonia competed in the Auto GP series, with Zele Racing.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>

Pizzonia returned to open-wheel racing in 2023, in the BOSS GP series, with HS Engineering in a Gibson-engined Dallara T12, winning both races overall at the season-opener at Paul Ricard. He has subsequently won every race in his class. He won the Open class title at TT Circuit Assen.
Racing record
Career summary
| Season | Series | Team | Races | Wins | Poles | F.Laps | Podiums | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Formula Vauxhall Junior Winter Series | ? | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1997 | Formula Vauxhall Junior | John Village Automotive | 16 | 4 | ? | ? | 4 | 142 | 2nd |
| Formula Vauxhall Junior Winter Series | Lewis Motorsport | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1st | |
| 1998 | Formula Vauxhall Junior | Lewis Motorsport | 16 | 8 | ? | ? | 8 | 186 | 1st |
| Formula Renault 2.0 UK Winter Series | Manor Motorsport | 4 | 4 | ? | 3 | 4 | 120 | 1st | |
| 1999 | Eurocup Formula Renault | Manor Motorsport | 9 | 4 | ? | ? | ? | 196 | 2nd |
| Formula Renault 2.0 UK | 13 | 11 | 12 | ? | 11 | 402 | 1st | ||
| 2000 | British Formula Three Championship | Manor Motorsport | 14 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 200 | 1st |
| Masters of Formula 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC | ||
| FIA European Formula 3 Cup | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20th | ||
| Formula One | Mild Seven Benetton Playlife | Test Driver | |||||||
| 2001 | International Formula 3000 | Petrobras Junior Team | 12 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 22 | 6th |
| 2002 | International Formula 3000 | Petrobras Junior Team | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 8th |
| Formula One | BMW WilliamsF1 Team | Test Driver | |||||||
| 2003 | Formula One | HSBC Jaguar Racing | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 2004 | Formula One | BMW WilliamsF1 Team | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 15th |
| 2005 | Formula One | BMW WilliamsF1 Team | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 22nd |
| 2006 | Champ Car World Series | Rocketsports Racing | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 18th |
| 2007 | GP2 Series | FMS International | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 27th |
| Stock Car Brasil | RS Competições | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 40th | |
| 2008 | Superleague Formula | SC Corinthians | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 264 | 9th |
| Stock Car Brasil | Cimed Racing | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 31st | |
| Champ Car World Series | Rocketsports Racing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | NC | |
| 2009 | Stock Car Brasil | Amir Nasr Racing | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 51 | 15th |
| Superleague Formula | SC Corinthians | 15 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 264 | 8th | |
| 2010 | Stock Car Brasil | Hot Car Competições | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 31 | 23rd |
| GT Brasil | CRT Brasil | 14 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 90 | 16th | |
| 2011 | Stock Car Brasil | Amir Nasr Racing | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 26th |
| Brasileiro de Marcas | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 28th | ||
| GT Brasil | CRT Brasil | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 23rd | |
| Superleague Formula | Team Brazil | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 102 | 8th | |
| 2012 | Stock Car Brasil | Comprafácil Nascar JF | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 83 | 15th |
| Campeonato Brasileiro de GT | Mottin Racing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC | |
| American Le Mans Series - LMP2 | Conquest Endurance | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | NC | |
| Auto GP World Series | Ombra Racing | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 45 | 9th | |
| 2013 | FIA World Endurance Championship - LMP2 | Delta-ADR | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 25 | 15th |
| Rolex Sports Car Series - DP | Michael Shank Racing | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 102 | 22nd | |
| 2014 | Stock Car Brasil | Prati-Donaduzzi | 20 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 158.5 | 9th |
| Auto GP World Series | Zele Racing | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 25 | 14th | |
| Brasileiro de Marcas | Amir Nasr Racing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | NC | |
| 2015 | Stock Car Brasil | Prati-Donaduzzi | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 95 | 18th |
| Auto GP World Series | Zele Racing | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 79 | 1st | |
| 2016 | FIA World Endurance Championship - LMP2 | Manor Motorsport | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 27th |
| Brasileiro de Marcas | C2 Team | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC | |
| Porsche Endurance Series - Cup | ? | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 37th | |
| 2017 | Stock Car Brasil | Prati-Donaduzzi | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 124 | 13th |
| 2018 | Stock Car Brasil | Prati-Donaduzzi | 22 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 21st |
| 2021 | Porsche Endurance Series | ? | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 116 | 7th |
| 2023 | BOSS GP - Open Class | HS Engineering | 14 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 352 | 1st |
| 2024 | BOSS GP - Open Class | HS Engineering | 10 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 257 | 1st |
Complete British Formula Three Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | Class | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Manor Motorsport | Dallara F399 | Mugen-Honda | Championship | THR Template:Small |
CRO Template:Small |
OUL Template:Small |
DON Template:Small |
DON Template:Small |
SIL Template:Small |
BRH Template:Small |
DON Template:Small |
DON Template:Small |
CRO Template:Small |
SIL Template:Small |
SNE Template:Small |
SPA Template:Small |
SIL Template:Small |
1st | 200 |
Complete International Formula 3000 results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Petrobras Junior Team | INT Template:Small |
IMO Template:Small |
CAT Template:Small |
A1R Template:Small |
MON Template:Small |
NÜR Template:Small |
MAG Template:Small |
SIL Template:Small |
HOC Template:Small |
HUN Template:Small |
SPA Template:Small |
MNZ Template:Small |
6th | 22 |
| 2002 | Petrobras Junior Team | INT Template:Small |
IMO Template:Small |
CAT Template:Small |
A1R Template:Small |
MON Template:Small |
NÜR Template:Small |
SIL Template:Small |
MAG Template:Small |
HOC Template:Small |
HUN Template:Small |
SPA Template:Small |
MNZ Template:Small |
8th | 18 |
| {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} | |||||||||||||||
Complete Formula One results
(key)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | WDC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:F1 | Jaguar Racing F1 Team | Jaguar R4 | Cosworth V10 | AUS 13† |
MAL Template:Small |
BRA Template:Small |
SMR Template:Small |
ESP Template:Small |
AUT Template:Small |
MON Template:Small |
CAN 10† |
EUR Template:Small |
FRA Template:Small |
GBR Template:Small |
GER | HUN | ITA | USA | JPN | 21st | 0 | |||
| Template:F1 | BMW WilliamsF1 Team | Williams FW26 | BMW P84 3.0 V10 | AUS | MAL | BHR | SMR | ESP | MON | EUR | CAN | USA | FRA | GBR | GER Template:Small |
HUN Template:Small |
BEL Template:Small |
ITA Template:Small |
CHN | JPN | BRA | 15th | 6 | |
| Template:F1 | BMW WilliamsF1 Team | Williams FW27 | BMW P84/5 3.0 V10 | AUS | MAL | BHR | SMR | ESP | MON | EUR | CAN | USA | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | TUR | ITA Template:Small |
BEL 15† |
BRA Template:Small |
JPN Template:Small |
CHN 13† |
22nd | 2 |
| {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
† Driver did not finish the Grand Prix, but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race distance.
American open wheel Racing
(key)
Complete Champ Car results
| Yr | Team | No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Rank | Points | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Rocketsports | 8 | LBH Template:Small |
HOU | MTY | MIL | POR | CLE | TOR | EDM | SJO | DEN | 18th | 43 | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | ||||
| 18 | MTL Template:Small |
ROA | SRF Template:Small |
MXC Template:Small | |||||||||||||||
IndyCar
| Year | Team | No. | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | Rank | Points | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Rocketsports | 9 | Panoz DP01 | Cosworth | HMS | STP | MOT1 | LBH1 Template:Small |
KAN | IND | MIL | TXS | IOW | RIR | WGL | NSH | MDO | EDM | KTY | SNM | DET | CHI | SRF2 | 45th | 0 | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
¹ Run on same day
² Non-points-paying, exhibition race
Complete GP2 Series results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Petrol Ofisi FMS International | BHR FEA Template:Small |
BHR SPR Template:Small |
CAT FEA Template:Small |
CAT SPR Template:Small |
MON FEA Template:Small |
FRA FEA |
FRA SPR |
GBR FEA |
GBR SPR |
EUR FEA |
EUR SPR |
HUN FEA |
HUN SPR |
TUR FEA |
TUR SPR |
ITA FEA |
ITA SPR |
BEL FEA |
BEL SPR |
VAL FEA |
VAL SPR |
27th | 1 |
| {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Complete Superleague Formula results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Super Final Results
- Super Final results in 2009 did not count for points towards the main championship.
Brazilian competitions
Stock Car Brasil
† Ineligible for championship points.
Complete Auto GP results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Pos | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Ombra Racing | MNZ 1 |
MNZ 2 |
VAL 1 |
VAL 2 |
MAR 1 |
MAR 2 |
HUN 1 |
HUN 2 |
ALG 1 |
ALG 2 |
CUR 1 Template:Small |
CUR 2 Template:Small |
9th | 45 | ||||
| Zele Racing | SON 1 Template:Small |
SON 2 Template:Small |
|||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | Zele Racing | MAR 1 |
MAR 2 |
LEC 1 |
LEC 2 |
HUN 1 |
HUN 2 |
MNZ 1 |
MNZ 2 |
IMO 1 |
IMO 2 |
RBR 1 |
RBR 2 |
NÜR 1 |
NÜR 2 |
EST 1 Template:Small |
EST 2 Template:Small |
14th | 25 |
| 2015 | Zele Racing | HUN 1 Template:Small |
HUN 2 Template:Small |
SIL 1 Template:Small |
SIL 2 Template:Small |
1st‡ | 79‡ | ||||||||||||
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‡ Position when season was cancelled.
Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results
| Year | Entrant | Class | Car | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Delta-ADR | LMP2 | Oreca 03 | Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 | SIL Template:Small |
SPA Template:Small |
LMS | SÃO | COA | FUJ | SHA | BHR | 15th | 26 | |
| 2016 | Manor | LMP2 | Oreca 05 | Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 | SIL | SPA | LMS | NÜR Template:Small |
MEX | COA | FUJ | SHA | BHR | 27th | 10 |
| {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} | |||||||||||||||
Complete BOSS GP Series results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate points for the fastest lap of top ten finishers)
| Year | Entrant | Car | Class | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | HS Engineering | Dallara T12 | Open | HOC 1 Template:Small |
HOC 2 Template:Small |
LEC 1 Template:Small |
LEC 2 Template:Small |
RBR 1 Template:Small |
RBR 2 Template:Small |
MIS 1 Template:Small |
MIS 2 Template:Small |
ASS 1 Template:Small |
ASS 2 Template:Small |
MNZ 1 Template:Small |
MNZ 2 Template:Small |
MUG 1 Template:Small |
MUG 2 Template:Small |
1st | 352 |
References
External links
- Pages using center with unknown parameters
- 1980 births
- Living people
- Sportspeople from Manaus
- Brazilian people of Italian descent
- British Formula Renault 2.0 drivers
- Brazilian Formula One drivers
- Jaguar Formula One drivers
- Williams Formula One drivers
- Brazilian Champ Car drivers
- Brazilian IndyCar Series drivers
- GP2 Series drivers
- Brazilian GP2 Series drivers
- International Formula 3000 drivers
- Superleague Formula drivers
- British Formula Three Championship drivers
- Stock Car Brasil drivers
- FIA GT1 World Championship drivers
- Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in the United Kingdom
- Auto GP drivers
- FIA World Endurance Championship drivers
- Rolex Sports Car Series drivers
- American Le Mans Series drivers
- Manor Motorsport drivers
- Ombra Racing drivers
- Scuderia Coloni drivers
- EuroInternational drivers
- Alan Docking Racing drivers
- Conquest Racing drivers
- Rocketsports Racing drivers
- Brazilian racing drivers