Pizzonia in F1 'next year'?

Pizzonia will test with the Benetton F1 team next week at the Spanish Valencia circuit. He will be the second F3 star to test with the team in a fortnight after Giorgio Pantano ran at Jerez.

"Obviously Antonio's really looking forward to the test, and if he does well he'll hopefully be in with a chance of driving with the team next year," said a representative of the F3 championship leader.

Pizzonia has been in talks with the team about the possibility of driving next season, in either a test or race driver capacity. However, Benetton is unclear about the situation regarding test drivers at present.

Pizzonia has also had talks with the McLaren F3000 team, who are reportedly keen to him next season.

"That's on the cards, and it's an option we'll look at if we need to, but right now the intention is to get Antonio into F1 next year," claimed Pizzonia's spokesman, who nevertheless remained cautious about the possibility.

"F3000 seems to ruin more careers than it makes," he added.