Formula One news

Pizzonia to race at Spa

The BMW WilliamsF1 team has just confirmed that Antonio Pizzonia will race for them at the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps this weekend, in place of Nick Heidfeld. 

Pizzonia, the team's long-term test driver, stepped into Heidfeld's shoes last weekend in Monza, after he was declared unfit after Friday practice at the Italian
Grand Prix following a testing accident on August 26. Given the intense schedule of back-to-back races, the team have decided to allow Nick sufficient time to fully recuperate. In addition, the team will avoid the need to make fitness assessments and driver nominations on the Friday of the Belgian Grand Prix, which would otherwise handicap the team by requiring Antonio Pizzonia to run first in the Belgian qualifying session. 

"Our first priority is prudence in relation to Nick's condition," said team chief Frank Williams. "Although the broad view is that he may well be ready to race by Friday, the back-to-back calendar at this time does not allow the luxury of more time to reach this conclusion, so it is best both for Nick, and indeed the team if we make a clear and early decision that Antonio will race this weekend. In addition to allowing Nick more time to recover, we can nominate Antonio now and he can benefit on Saturday in Belgium with a good starting position for qualifying from the strong seventh place finish he secured in Monza."

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