Jaguar: No Decision Taken on Pizzonia

Jaguar have told Brazilian rookie Antonio Pizzonia to raise his game but he can still save his place at the Formula One team, says sporting director John Hogan.

The 22-year-old has underperformed in qualifying so far this season compared to Australian teammate Mark Webber and Jaguar have approached McLaren's Austrian reserve driver Alexander Wurz about possibly replacing him.

"No decision has been taken," said Hogan at the Spanish Grand Prix. "We, like any other team, constantly review all options...I think a number of speculations have got out of control, if you like.

"We'll make a decision in the best interests of the team... nobody is holding a gun to Antonio's head. We've asked him to raise his game because essentially both cars are the same... Mark is doing a very good job and we reckon there is a lot more in Antonio than he's showing."

Wurz said he was still in talks and would meet Mercedes boss Juergen Hubbert, whose company are McLaren's engine partners, later in Barcelona.

"The negotiations are in progress - nothing has yet been decided," Wurz told Austrian radio.

More Time

Pizzonia's former colleagues at Williams, where he was a test driver, said on Thursday that Jaguar should give him more time and that sentiment was echoed by former World Champion Jackie Stewart on Friday.

"I think he's got the skill... the question mark is whether the mind management is there to thread the needle," said the man whose own team became Jaguar after he sold it to Ford and who dismissed Dane Jan Magnussen mid-season in 1998.

"I think it's unfortunate that it has become such a public debate because I don't think it has been such a big debate within the team actually," he added. I think Pizzonia's very young, it's only his fifth Grand Prix. I think he's got lots of time in order to deliver and I think he needs that time.

"I don't think it would be a good decision to just change after five races... If he does not deliver over a period of time then you have got to make the tough decision. But I think this would be too early."

Pizzonia, who came into Formula One with a glowing reputation and comparison to the likes of Rubens Barrichello and Ayrton Senna, was 13th fastest in first qualifying compared to Webber's strong seventh.

He made a shaky start to the day, hitting mechanic Andy Saunders as he overshot the box and sending him flying into the air, but the team exonerated him.

"That wasn't his fault," said Hogan. "The brakes locked up."

Spokesman Nav Sidhu said the mechanic had been taken to the circuit medical centre with minor cuts and bruises and slight concussion. The Brazilian, who had to use the spare car in practice after suffering a transmission problem, was also fined a total of $1,500 for speeding in the pitlane.