10/02/2005
NEWS STORY
Talking to Pitpass, Antonio Pizzonia's manager, Jayme Brito has confirmed that the Brazilian is looking for alternative employment in 2005, following WilliamsF1's decision to hand its second race seat to Nick Heidfeld.
Towards the end of 2004, following the Contract Recognition Board's decision that Jenson Button's contract with BAR for 2005 was binding, thus blocking the Englishman's move back to Grove, it seemed inevitable that Pizzonia would fill the second seat, alongside former Jaguar teammate Mark Webber.
However, it was then that Nick Heidfeld entered the equation, according to many at the insistence of BMW. Consequently, the Brazilian and the German went head to head in a series of shootouts, as Frank Williams evaluated both drivers.
At the recent launch of the Grove outfit's 2005 contender, the FW27, Antonio was told of the team's decision, which favoured his German rival, less than thirty minutes before the unveiling.
In recent days there has been much speculation as to the Brazilian's future with WilliamsF1, especially in light of reports that Brito had been spotted at Frankfurt Airport en route to the United States, where he is said to be talking to a number of race teams.
"I'm not sure who spotted me at Frankfurt Airport, but I would love to shoot him," he told Pitpass this morning, "then again, that's the name of the game."
Asked about the current rumours, he replied: "We are talking to some teams in America, and I have hired other people to assist me. We are looking for an alternative seat, should Williams' position not be clarified a little bit better."
Asked how WilliamsF1 is reacting to the speculation, Brito replied: "They have said that they will not block his career, but they would like him to stay there.
"We would like Antonio to stay there," he added, "but we have to have some guarantees for his future. Basically, that's it."
Asked for the conditions, he said: "One of the conditions is that he is guaranteed a race seat in 2006, while the other is something that Frank (Williams) promised him.
"The priority for Antonio is to go racing," he continued. "We don't want to see him test for another year without any promises for 2006.
"Everybody knows that Jenson Button will be racing for WilliamsF1 next year," he added, "he has a signed contract, besides which, I don't think BAR are going to be able to meet the performance clauses there are on Jenson's contract."
When contacted by Pitpass, a WilliamsF1 spokesman said: "Our position is quite simple, Antonio is contracted as our official test and reserve driver."