Francesco Pizzi
Francesco Raffaele Pizzi (born 12 November 2004) is an Italian racing driver currently competing for Charouz Racing System in the 2022 FIA Formula 3 Championship. He was the vice-champion of the 2020 Italian F4 Championship and drove for Van Amersfoort Racing in the 2021 Formula Regional European Championship.
| Francesco Raffaele Pizzi | |
|---|---|
 Pizzi at the Red Bull Ring in 2021 | |
| Nationality |  Italian |
| Born | 12 November 2004 Rome, Italy |
| FIA Formula 3 Championship career | |
| Debut season | 2022 |
| Current team | Charouz Racing System |
| Car number | 16 |
| Best finish | TBA in 2022 |
| Previous series | |
| 2021 2020 2020 | Formula Regional European Championship Italian F4 Championship Formula 4 UAE Championship |
| Championship titles | |
| 2020 | Formula 4 UAE Championship |
Career
Karting
Pizzi made his karting debut in the Mini ROK International Final in 2014, where he finished ninth. He raced in the 60 Mini class for three years, winning the South Garda Winter Cup in 2016 and becoming vice-champion in the WSK Super Master Series and WSK Champions Cup respectively that same year.[1] The Italian then moved up to drive in the OKJ-category, placing third in the Italian Championship in 2017. He competed in karts until 2019.
Lower formulae
In January 2020 Pizzi made his single-seater debut with Xcel Motorsport in the Formula 4 UAE Championship.[2] He had a perfect opening round, winning all three races at the first weekend in Dubai. He scored five more victories and won the championship, 26 points ahead of his nearest competitor Lorenzo Fluxá.[3]
The Italian then signed with Van Amersfoort Racing to compete in the Italian F4 Championship, as the team's sole full-time entrant.[4] He started the campaign strongly, taking three podiums, including a win, at the first round in Misano,[5] however, his next win would only come at the fifth round in Monza.[6] Despite two wins at that weekend Pizzi had already lost too much ground to his title rival Gabriele Minì, and in the end finished second, with seven podiums and 208 points to his name.[7]
Formula Regional European Championship
In December 2020 Pizzi took part in the post-season rookie test for the Formula Regional European Championship for ART Grand Prix alongside his F4 title rival Gabriele Minì and Grégoire Saucy.[8] After a second test later that month, where Pizzi returned to Van Amersfoort Racing and set the third-fastest laptime of the day, the Dutch team confirmed Pizzi to be one of their drivers for the 2021 season.[9][10]The Italian scored his first points of the season at the Zandvoort Circuit, finishing fifth in the second race. Another points finish at the Red Bull Ring helped Pizzi to finish 20th in the standings. Following the conclusion to the season Pizzi announced his departure from VAR and took part in winter testing with Arden in Barcelona , R-ace GP in Paul Ricard and Monza, MP Motorsport in the second Barcelona test and FA Racing in Mugello.
FIA Formula 3 Championship
For 2022 Pizzi progressed to the FIA Formula 3 Championship, partnering László Tóth and Ayrton Simmons at Charouz Racing System.[11] Talking about his sudden move to F3 after just two years of car racing, Pizzi stated that "it's going to be tough, but that's why we race".[12]
Karting record
Karting career summary
| Season | Series | Team | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Mini ROK International Final — Bridgestone Final | 9th | |
| Trofeo Andrea Margutti — 60 Mini | 19th | ||
| WSK Final Cup — 60 Mini | Lenzokart | 31st | |
| 2015 | WSK Champions Cup — 60 Mini | Lenzokart | 15th |
| Trofeo Andrea Margutti — 60 Mini | 13th | ||
| Italian Championship — 60 Mini | 15th | ||
| Trofeo delle Industrie — 60 Mini | 12th | ||
| WSK Night Edition — 60 Mini | Noviello Engine | 25th | |
| ROK Cup International Final — Mini ROK | 7th | ||
| WSK Super Master Series — 60 Mini | Novalux Srl | 14th | |
| WSK Final Cup — 60 Mini | Giugliano Kart | 9th | |
| 2016 | South Garda Winter Cup — Mini ROK | Energy Corse | 1st |
| WSK Champions Cup — 60 Mini | Giugliano Kart | 2nd | |
| WSK Super Master Series — 60 Mini | 2nd | ||
| Trofeo Andrea Margutti — 60 Mini | 16th | ||
| Italian Championship — 60 Mini | 19th | ||
| Trofeo delle Industrie — 60 Mini | 10th | ||
| WSK Night Edition — 60 Mini | AB Motorsport | 11th | |
| ROK Cup International Final — Mini ROK | Baby Race Srl | 17th | |
| WSK Final Cup — 60 Mini | Birel ART Racing | 33rd | |
| 2017 | WSK Champions Cup — OKJ | Novalux Srl | 10th |
| Italian Championship — OKJ | Lenzokart | 3rd | |
| South Garda Winter Cup — OKJ | 21st | ||
| CIK-FIA European Championship — OKJ | Novalux Srl | 29th | |
| ROK Cup International Final — Junior ROK | Fusion Motorsport | 4th | |
| CIK-FIA World Championship — OKJ | 26th | ||
| WSK Final Cup — OKJ | 10th | ||
| 2018 | WSK Champions Cup — OKJ | Birel ART Racing | 5th |
| South Garda Winter Cup — OKJ | 5th | ||
| WSK Super Master Series — OKJ | 28th | ||
| German Karting Championship — OKJ | 26th | ||
| CIK-FIA European Championship — OKJ | Lennox Racing Team | 62nd | |
| WSK Final Cup — OK | 42nd | ||
| 2019 | South Garda Winter Cup — KZ2 | Manetti Motorsport | DNF |
| Trofeo Andrea Margutti — KZ2 | DNF | ||
| WSK Euro Series — OK | 33rd | ||
| WSK Euro Series — KZ2 | NC | ||
| WSK Super Master Series — KZ2 | 37th |
Complete Karting World Championship results
| Year | Team | Car | Quali Heats | Main race |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 |  Fusion Motorsport |
OKJ | 24th | 26th |
Racing record
Racing career summary
| Season | Series | Team | Races | Wins | Poles | F/Laps | Podiums | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Formula 4 UAE Championship | Xcel Motorsport | 19 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 300 | 1st |
| Italian F4 Championship | Van Amersfoort Racing | 20 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 208 | 2nd | |
| ADAC Formula 4 Championship | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 11th | ||
| 2021 | Formula Regional European Championship | Van Amersfoort Racing | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 20th |
| 2022 | FIA Formula 3 Championship | Charouz Racing System | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 20th* |
Complete Formula 4 UAE Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Xcel Motorsport | DUB1 1 1 |
DUB1 2 1 |
DUB1 3 1 |
DUB1 4 C |
YMC1 1 1 |
YMC1 2 4 |
YMC1 3 1 |
YMC1 4 11† |
YMC2 1 Ret |
YMC2 2 5 |
YMC2 3 2 |
YMC2 4 1 |
DUB2 1 4 |
DUB2 2 1 |
DUB2 3 1 |
DUB2 4 6 |
DUB3 1 4 |
DUB3 2 5 |
DUB3 3 2 |
DUB3 4 Ret |
1st | 300 |
Complete Italian F4 Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | Pos | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Van Amersfoort Racing | MIS 1 2 |
MIS 2 3 |
MIS 3 1 |
IMO1 1 6 |
IMO1 2 10 |
IMO1 3 2 |
RBR 1 6 |
RBR 2 8 |
RBR 3 6 |
MUG 1 9 |
MUG 2 Ret |
MUG 3 5 |
MNZ 1 1 |
MNZ 2 1 |
MNZ 3 4 |
IMO2 1 9 |
IMO2 2 25† |
IMO2 3 5 |
VLL 1 2 |
VLL 2 C |
VLL 3 Ret |
2nd | 208 |
Complete Formula Regional European Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Van Amersfoort Racing | IMO 1 18 |
IMO 2 17 |
CAT 1 21 |
CAT 2 15 |
MCO 1 15 |
MCO 2 12 |
LEC 1 20 |
LEC 2 32† |
ZAN 1 13 |
ZAN 2 5 |
SPA 1 13 |
SPA 2 16 |
RBR 1 22 |
RBR 2 9 |
VAL 1 18 |
VAL 2 16 |
MUG 1 18 |
MUG 2 17 |
MNZ 1 12 |
MNZ 2 16 |
20th | 12 |
† Driver did not finish the race, but was classified as they completed more than 90% of the race distance.
Complete FIA Formula 3 Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Charouz Racing System | BHR SPR 19 |
BHR FEA Ret |
IMO SPR 10 |
IMO FEA Ret |
CAT SPR |
CAT FEA |
SIL SPR |
SIL FEA |
RBR SPR |
RBR FEA |
HUN SPR |
HUN FEA |
SPA SPR |
SPA FEA |
ZAN SPR |
ZAN FEA |
MNZ SPR |
MNZ FEA |
20th* | 1* |
* Season still in progress.
References
- "WSK: Four podiums for Energy at Castelletto". Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- Agrifoglio, Andrea (December 27, 2019). "Pizzi pronto per l'esordio a Dubai "Nuova avventura, non vedo l'ora" (Pizzi ready for the debut in Dubai "New adventure, I can't wait")". Gazetta Regionale. Archived from the original on December 27, 2019. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
- "Francesco Pizzi wins F4 UAE title in Dubai finale". 7 March 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
- "VAR SIGNS FRESH UAE F4 CHAMPION FRANCESCO PIZZI FOR EUROPEAN F4 CAMPAIGN". 12 March 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
- "Francesco Pizzi holds off Mini at Misano to take Italian F4 lead". 2 August 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
- "Pizzi wins again ahead of Mini in Monza Italian F4 race two". October 18, 2020. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- "Gabriele Mini crowned Italian F4 champion at Imola with second place to Crawford". November 22, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- "Mini, Pizzi and Saucy to drive for ART GP in 'FREC' rookie test". December 7, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- Wood, Elliot (December 19, 2020). "Montoya and Beganovic star in Euroformula and FREC test at Barcelona". FormulaScout. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
- "Francesco Pizzi chooses Van Amersfoort Racing for FREC graduation". February 12, 2021. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- "Charouz Racing System add Italian rookie Pizzi to their team for 2022". FIAFormula3® - The Official F3® Website. Retrieved 2022-03-12.
- "'It's going to be tough but that's why we race' – Pizzi preparing for a difficult debut season". FIAFormula3® - The Official F3® Website. Retrieved 2022-03-12.