Williams Put Pizzonia on Standby for German GP

Brazilian Antonio Pizzonia, dumped by Jaguar last year, is poised for a Formula One comeback with Williams at next week's German Grand Prix.

The 23-year-old has been put on standby after Spaniard Marc Gene, the team's official reserve driver, failed to make much of an impression in the two races since Ralf Schumacher was sidelined by a crash at the US Grand Prix.

"All I know is that the team has told me to be ready," Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper quoted him as saying on Friday.

A Williams spokesman said a decision was likely after a final day of testing at the Jerez circuit in southern Spain, and it would be premature to say that Pizzonia had got the drive.

However Britain's Independent quoted an unnamed team insider as saying that "Marc had two good cracks at it but was only able to return average performances. Now it's Antonio's turn."

Pizzonia was the fastest driver at Jerez on Thursday and Williams have kept faith in him despite his traumatic rookie season with Jaguar.

The driver from Manaus - nicknamed 'Jungle Boy' - joined Jaguar with a reputation as an extremely quick, if occasionally wild, racer but he failed to translate that speed into any points on the track.

Frank Williams said before the start of the season that he had no doubt Pizzonia remained very quick but questioned the Brazilian's race form.

"One worries about what happened to him last year and in his Formula 3000 season before that," he said.

The German Grand Prix at Hockenheim is the 12th round of the season and last race before a three-week summer break. Ralf Schumacher is hoping to return in Hungary on August 15 if doctors give him the go-ahead.

Williams are looking for two new drivers for 2005 with Schumacher joining Toyota and Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya moving to McLaren.

The team are fourth in the championship after three disappointing races and desperately need strong scoring finishes to prevent resurgent McLaren overtaking them. Their last win was at Hockenheim in August 2003.