Antonio Pizzoniaformer Formula 1 driver and currently 45 years old, was arrested last Saturday (10/01), in the United States, on charges of assault. Born in Manaus, the Amazon native is part of the list of 33 Brazilians who have competed in the main category of world motorsport throughout history. In addition to Formula 1, he built a career in several categories and continued competing professionally until 2010.
Born on September 11, 1980, Pizzonia gained international recognition in the early 2000s. Between 2003 and 2006, he was married to Olympic long jump champion Maurren Maggi, with whom he had a daughter. He is also the father of two other children and currently lives in the United States.
Known by the nickname “Jungle Boy”, Pizzonia debuted in Formula 1 in 2003 for the Jaguar team. That year, he competed in the first 11 stages of the season, but ended up being released before the end of the championship.
In 2004, he returned to Formula 1 with Williams, initially as a test driver, a role he had already held in 2002. During the season, he replaced Ralf Schumacher in four Grands Prix, after the German retired due to an accident. The following year, he returned to racing for the English team, taking Nick Heidfeld’s place in the final five races of 2005.
In total, Antônio Pizzonia participated in 20 races in Formula 1. Outside the top category, he had a distinguished career in the lower divisions of European motorsport: he was champion of Formula Vauxhall and Formula Renault in the United Kingdom, in addition to winning the title of the traditional English Formula 3. In Brazil, he also competed in Stock Car between 2007 and 2010.
Antonio Pizzonia: what happened in the USA
According to the website “TMZ Sports”, Pizzonia was arrested and booked in the state of Texas after an episode that occurred at Speedsportz Racing Park. There, a stage of the Superkarts USA Winter Series was taking place, a kart competition in which one of his sons took part.
So far, authorities have not released details about what led to the confusion or how the incident began. There is also no public information about other people directly involved in the incident and whether the Brazilian has already been released – or has a date to leave prison.
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