Pizzonia confident after practice promise

The Brazilian came under intense pressure to keep his seat before the Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona, when it was rumoured that McLaren test driver Alex Wurz might take over the drive. But Jaguar decided after the race that Pizzonia would be allowed to continue until the end of the season.

"It was a new experience for me," Pizzonia said. "I didn't expect to have something like that so early. Of course it didn't help, but now it's gone, I can put it behind me and learn from it. It has changed the way I look at Formula 1 a little bit.

"I think everyone in the paddock and all the other teams could see what was happening, but unfortunately a few people in the team couldn't see that. So it was not so much about F1, but Jaguar."

Pizzonia has been close to team-mate Mark Webber's pace throughout so far in Austria and marginally quicker than the Australian in Saturday's first free practice session. Although half a second and six slots behind Webber's fine third place in Friday qualifying, the Brazilian seems confident he can close the gap.

"We had a problem with the brakes and in qualifying it was still there," he explained, "so basically I lost everything in the first three corners. Brakes are very important here. I know I could have gone a lot quicker and hopefully if we solve the problem tomorrow, we are going to be in a better position. We had a good test last week in Paul Ricard and I am a lot more comfortable now."