Jaguar offered Pizzonia the chance to stay on as test driver but he turned it down.

BBC: Stewart backs Pizzonia

But it seems to me that he also has more going for him than Pizzonia or Heidfeld.

BBC: SPORT | Motorsport | Formula One | Coulthard makes his point

"Antonio Pizzonia has not been able to realise his potential with the team over the past 11 races, " said Jaguar.

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"I would have given Pizzonia more time, " said Stewart, whose team was renamed Jaguar after he sold it to American car giant Ford.

BBC: Stewart backs Pizzonia

BAR's Takuma Sato was fourth with a 1:18.540 lap, followed by Toyota test driver Ricardo Zonta, BAR tester Anthony Davidson and Williams' other test driver Antonio Pizzonia.

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Pizzonia was also outpaced and psychologically undermined by Webber when they were team-mates at Jaguar, whereas Coulthard and the Australian are friends and would be happy to work together.

BBC: SPORT | Motorsport | Formula One | Coulthard makes his point

The safe option might be Pizzonia, but he was no more than adequate when he filled in for the injured Ralf Schumacher last season - and the team's competitiveness noticeably improved when Schumacher returned.

BBC: SPORT | Motorsport | Formula One | Coulthard makes his point