Having tested for Williams in 2002, he impressed sufficiently to be given a full-time drive with Jaguar in Formula 1 for 2003.
However, a string of poor results followed, he was replaced and he returned to his Williams test driver role for 2004.
Ahead of the German Grand Prix, with regular driver Ralf Schumacher out injured and with stand-in Marc Gene’s below par performances at the previous two GPs, Pizzonia was drafted in to race.
Three seventh place finishes in four races before Schumacher’s return in China left Pizzonia in with a shout of a full-time Williams driver in 2005, but he was beaten to it by ‘Quick’ Nick Heidfeld.
Pizzonia got another chance to race when Heidfeld was concussed in practice for the 2005 Italian Grand Prix, & Pizzonia picked up yet another 7th place finish (his fourth in five races).
Further (separate and unrelated) injuries kept Heidfeld out for the remainder of the season, and though he kept his seat, Pizzonia failed to finish another Grand Prix.
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