Pedro Diniz

In thisPortuguese name,the first or maternalfamily nameisFalleirosand the second or paternal family name isdos Santos Diniz.

Pedro Diniz

Diniz in 2016
Born	(1970-05-22)22 May 1970 São Paulo,Brazil
Formula OneWorld Championship career
Nationality	Brazilian
Active years	1995–2000
Teams	Forti,Ligier,Arrows,Sauber
Entries	99 (98 starts)
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	0
Career points	10
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0
First entry	1995 Brazilian Grand Prix
Last entry	2000 Malaysian Grand Prix

Pedro Paulo Falleiros dos Santos Diniz(Portuguese pronunciation:[ˈpedɾudʒiˈnis];born 22 May 1970) is a Brazilian businessman and former racing driver. Diniz began karting at the age of eighteen and achieved minor success, before progressing to car racing in theBrazilian Formula Ford Championshipand theBritish Formula 3 Championship.He first drove inFormula OnewithFortifor the1995 season.The following year he switched toLigierand moved toArrowsfor1997.In1998,he finished 14th in the Drivers' Championship, and subsequently moved to Sauber for1999.He left Sauber after the2000 seasonand bought a share in theProstteam, which folded a year later.

Since leaving motorsport, Diniz founded theFormula Renault 2.0 Brazil Championshipwhich he ran from 2002 and 2006, later becoming a partner inPão de Açúcarand operates an organic produce and dairy farm alongside his wife Tatiana Diniz. He is a board member ofFood Tank,a non-profit organization that spotlights environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable ways of alleviating hunger, obesity, and poverty and works to create networks of people, organizations, and content to push forfood systemchange.

Diniz was considered apay driverduring his career due to his family backing. He scored ten points during his six-year Formula One career in a period when only top-six finishes awarded points and other pay drivers did not score any points.

Early life and career

Diniz was born inSão Paulo,Brazil,on 22 May 1970. His father wasAbílio dos Santos Diniz,a businessman who used to own the Brazilian distribution chainCompanhia Brasileira de Distribuiçãoand the supermarket chainPão de Açúcar.Diniz struggled to find a good education and went to several schools around the local area.

Diniz begankartingat the age of eighteen, and his career was funded by his father who supported his son's hobby.He competed in several events around Brazil and his first racing success came when he won the Two Hours of São Paulo. Aged 19, Diniz moved up into car racing, competing in theBrazilian Formula Fordchampionship, where he finished ninth in the Drivers' Championship. In 1990, Diniz moved to the Reyanud Alfa team and finished ninth overall, with his best performances being a podium position atInterlagos.

For 1991, Diniz moved to the British Formula 3 with theWest Surrey Racingteam, finishing 11th overall. He moved to the Edenbridge Racing team in 1992, driving a Reynard Mugen and took two podiums en route to eighth place overall.

Formula One career

Forti (1995)

Diniz at the1995 British Grand Prix

Diniz entered Formula One, the highest category of circuit racing defined by theFédération Internationale de l'Automobile(FIA), motorsport's world governing body, with the Forti team, as team-mate toRoberto Morenoin1995.In addition, this was the first of a three-year contract with Diniz and his backers.Despite his lack of success in F3000, he was guaranteed a seat as his family and sponsors were paying a significant amount of the team's budget.Furthermore, retired driverRené Arnouxwas employed as a consultant and driver coach for Diniz.The season started with Diniz scoring three consecutive finishes, albeit outside of the points scoring positions—but was not classified for the races inArgentinaandSan Marino.He did not finish the next race inSpaindue to a gearbox problem and finished tenth inMonaco.Diniz retired from the next five races he entered, primarily from car issues and spun off into retirement atMagny-Cours.He subsequently finished every remaining race of the season, apart from the Grand Prix held atSuzukawhere he spun off. He finished the season scoring no points and was unclassified in the Drivers' Championship.Diniz's good finishing record enabled him to establish himself as a steady, dependable driver.In December, Diniz signed for theLigierteam for1996,despite team ownerTom Walkinshawinitially refusing to hold talks with the Brazilian driver.Ligier eventually signed Diniz after a shootout test session against other drivers in which Diniz was the fastest, also impressing the team with his approach and technical feedback. At the end of the season, Diniz and his sponsors were described as "throwing their money away" on the uncompetitive Forti.But the more significant impact of his first year in F1 was that the Brazilian had done nothing to assuage critics who had said he was a "pay driver". It took him several years to prove that he was not just in the sport because of his funding.

Ligier (1996)

Diniz started the season by finishing outside of the points in the opening two races—tenth inAustraliaand eighth inBrazil.At theArgentine Grand Prix,his car burst into flames after a pit-stop due to its fuel valve sticking open; British newspaperThe Sunfamously printed the photo alongside the headline "Diniz in the Oven".After failing to finish atMonaco,a race which his teammate Panis won, Diniz scored his first career point with a sixth-place finish atCatalunya.Six straight retirements followed before he scored another sixth-place finish atMonza.Following his poor season with Forti in 1995 little was expected of him for 1996, so there was mild surprise when he managed to out-qualify the better rated Panis atHockenheimand establish himself as a driver capable of scoring points. He finished the season 15th in the Drivers' Championship with two points, six places and 11 points behind Panis.

After the season concluded, it was announced that Diniz would leave Ligier for theArrowsteam for 1997, partnering reigning World ChampionDamon Hill.An important factor was the amount of sponsorship Diniz brought to Arrows, estimated to be worth $13 million.

Arrows (1997–98)

1997

For1997,Diniz was confident heading into the season and his decision to join Arrows, saying: "The all-round strength of the package Tom [Walkinshaw] has put together for 1997 made the decision very easy for me".Diniz started his season with a finish inAustralia(although he was given dispensation to start despite falling outside the 107% qualifying time) and later suffered from consecutive retirements in the next five races. He managed to finish eighth inCanada,before picking up further consecutive retirements in the next four races. Diniz managed to secure a seventh-place finish inBelgium,however he had been running in an excellent third place before a problem at his first pit stop dropped him out of contention. Diniz suffering a further retirement inItaly,however he managed to secure finishes in the next three consecutive races, which included a points scoring finish at theLuxembourg Grand Prixand retired from the final race of the season at theEuropean Grand Prix.Diniz's reputation grew throughout the season from a mere pay driver to a genuine racing driver, he managed to out-qualify teammate Hill inBelgiumandJapan,two of the most technically challenging tracks on the calendar, also having a number of strong race performances. In October, Arrows announced that Diniz had signed a one-year extension to his contract, remaining with the team for 1998.Diniz finished the season in sixteenth place in the Drivers' Championship, with two points, and finished four places behind team-mate Hill.

1998

Diniz remained at Arrows for1998,partnered byMika Salo.Diniz endured a torrid start: his car suffered gearbox problems in the opening three rounds and endured engine failures in the races atSan MarinoandSpain.He scored his first point of the season with a sixth-place finish inMonacoand managed to finish the races inCanadaandFrance.Diniz suffered three more consecutive retirements, and finished the races inHungaryandBelgium,in eleventh and fifth respectively. Diniz finished the season by retiring in the final three races. He finished 14th in the Drivers' Championship, and was tied on points with team-mate Salo.

At the end of the season, Diniz became embroiled in a contract dispute. On 12 October, Diniz chose to leave Arrows and signed a contract to joinSauber,having been previously linked to a seat atBAR.Arrows, however, insisted that they had the right to exercise their option to keep Diniz. Diniz argued that the Arrows option contained a clause allowing him to leave if Arrows did not deliver performances required by the driver. The dispute went to Formula One's Contract Recognition Board, who ruled in favour of Diniz on 22 February.Arrows later sued Diniz for £4 million, for breach of contract.The case was later heard by the Commercial High Court in London in February 2001 and ruled that Arrows ownerTom Walkinshawpay Diniz £500,000 in compensation.Arrows later applied for an appeal against the decision, and the Court of Appeal ruled in Diniz's favour in February 2002.

Sauber (1999–2000)

1999

For1999,Diniz partnered experienced driverJean Alesiat Sauber. He endured a torrid start: He was forced into retirement in the first five races held in the season; and in the sixth race of the season held inCanada,he managed to score his first point of the season with a sixth-place finish. Diniz suffered a retirement at the next round inFrance,before clinching consecutive sixth-place finishes in the next two races and later suffered further consecutive retirements in the following six races. In late August, it was announced that Diniz would remain at Sauber for 2000.At theEuropean Grand Prix,Diniz was hit by Benetton driverAlexander Wurzwho sent the Sauber driver into a barrel roll and suffered a bruised knee and shoulder, resulting from his car's roll hoop becoming damaged.The season was somewhat of a disappointment for both the team and the driver, however although Diniz only finished four races all season he scored points in three of them. Diniz finished the season fourteenth in the Drivers' Championship and scored three points.

2000

Diniz at the2000 Canadian Grand Prix

For2000,Diniz again competed with Sauber and was partnered with Mika Salo. Team principalPeter Sauberstated Diniz and Salo would have equal status and that the former would use his experience over the upcoming season.

Diniz started off the season by retiring with transmission problems inAustralia.He, along with Salo, were forced to withdraw from theBrazilian Grand Prixdue to potentially dangerous wing failures during the weekend.He managed to finish in the next two races—eighth inSan Marinoand eleventh at theBritish Grand Prix—which was followed by a retirement at theSpanish Grand Prixdue to a spin on the first lap. He was involved in a collision withGiancarlo Fisichella's Benetton inAustriafor which he received a stop-go penalty,and inGermany,Diniz collided with Prost driverJean Alesiforcing both drivers to retire.Diniz finished the year scoring no points and was unclassified in the Drivers' Championship.

Diniz became unhappy at Sauber over a test session shoot out atMugelloagainst fellow countrymanEnrique Bernoldi.He held talks with the Prost and Sauber teams during October,and could not find a race seat with either team. Diniz decided to withdraw from active motorsport and his family purchased a 40 percent stake of the Prost team for $10 million and took a management role within the team.

Post-Formula One

In late 2001, the Diniz family sought to purchase the remaining stake in the Prost team, but negotiations with team principalAlain Prostresulted in no agreement.Diniz formally left the team in November as his relationship with Prost had deteriorated.

Diniz announced the creation of a new racing series, theFormula Renault 2.0 Brazil Championshipin November 2001.Diniz was a partner of the Wonder Inn, Fernando de Noronha between July 2003 and May 2009.He subsequently became a partner in his father's supermarket chain and operates an organic produce and dairy farm. He married Tatiana who works alongside Diniz and has two children.

Alongside his organic produce farm, Diniz founded Instituto Toca, a non-profit school and research initiative for sustainability. He is currently on the board of Peninsula Participações.

Racing record

Career summary

Season	Series	Team	Races	Poles	Wins	F/Laps	Podiums	Points	Position
1989	Brazilian Formula Ford 1600	?	11	?	0	?	?	0	6th
1990	Formula 3 Sudamericana	Daacar	12	0	0	1	1	4	15th
1991	British Formula 3 Championship	West Surrey Racing	14	0	0	0	0	1	12th
1992	British Formula 3 Championship	Edenbridge Racing	15	0	0	0	2	8	12th
	Masters of Formula 3	Edenbridge Racing	1	0	0	0	0	0	20th
	British Formula 3000	Edenbridge Racing	1	0	0	0	0	0	-
1993	International Formula 3000	Forti Corse	8	0	0	0	0	0	-
	Formula 3 Sudamericana	?	1	0	0	0	0	0	-
1994	International Formula 3000	Forti Corse	8	0	0	0	0	3	12th
1995	Formula One	Parmalat Forti Ford	17	0	0	0	0	0	NC
1996	Formula One	Ligier Gauloises Blondes	16	0	0	0	0	2	15th
1997	Formula One	Danka Arrows Yamaha	17	0	0	0	0	2	16th
1998	Formula One	Danka Zepter Arrows	16	0	0	0	0	3	14th
1999	Formula One	Red Bull Sauber Petronas	16	0	0	0	0	3	14th
2000	Formula One	Red Bull Sauber Petronas	16	0	0	0	0	0	NC
Source:

Complete International Formula 3000 results

(key) (Races inboldindicate pole position) (Races initalicsindicate fastest lap)

Year	Entrant	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	DC	Points
1993	Forti Corse	DON Ret	SIL Ret	PAU DNQ	PER 7	HOC Ret	NÜR 16	SPA 14	MAG 11	NOG 14	NC	0
1994	Forti Corse	SIL Ret	PAU Ret	CAT 10	PER Ret	HOC Ret	SPA 9	EST 4	MAG Ret		13th	3
Source:

Complete Formula One results

(key)

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	WDC	Points
1995	ParmalatFortiFord	FortiFG01	FordEDB 3.0V8	BRA 10	ARG NC	SMR NC	ESP Ret	MON 10	CAN Ret	FRA Ret	GBR Ret	GER Ret	HUN Ret	BEL 13	ITA 9	POR 16	EUR 13	PAC 17	JPN Ret	AUS 7	NC	0
1996	Équipe LigierGauloises Blondes	LigierJS43	Mugen HondaMF301HA 3.0V10	AUS 10	BRA 8	ARG Ret	EUR 10	SMR 7	MON Ret	ESP 6	CAN Ret	FRA Ret	GBR Ret	GER Ret	HUN Ret	BEL Ret	ITA 6	POR Ret	JPN Ret		15th	2
1997	DankaArrowsYamaha	ArrowsA18	YamahaOX11A 3.0V10	AUS 10	BRA Ret	ARG Ret	SMR Ret	MON Ret	ESP Ret	CAN 8	FRA Ret	GBR Ret	GER Ret	HUN Ret	BEL 7	ITA Ret	AUT 13†	LUX 5	JPN 12	EUR Ret	16th	2
1998	DankaZepterArrows	ArrowsA19	ArrowsT2-F1 3.0V10	AUS Ret	BRA Ret	ARG Ret	SMR Ret	ESP Ret	MON 6	CAN 9	FRA 14	GBR Ret	AUT Ret	GER Ret	HUN 11	BEL 5	ITA Ret	LUX Ret	JPN Ret		14th	3
1999	Red BullSauberPetronas	SauberC18	PetronasSPE-03A 3.0V10	AUS Ret	BRA Ret	SMR Ret	MON Ret	ESP Ret	CAN 6	FRA Ret	GBR 6	AUT 6	GER Ret	HUN Ret	BEL Ret	ITA Ret	EUR Ret	MAL Ret	JPN 11		14th	3
2000	Red BullSauberPetronas	SauberC19	PetronasSPE 04A 3.0V10	AUS Ret	BRA DNS	SMR 8	GBR 11	ESP Ret	EUR 7	MON Ret	CAN 10	FRA 11	AUT 9	GER Ret	HUN Ret	BEL 11	ITA 8	USA 8	JPN 11	MAL Ret	NC	0
Sources:

^†Did not finish, but was classified as he had completed more than 90% of the race distance.

External links

• Official website
• Pedro DinizatIMDb
• Pedro Dinizcareer summary at DriverDB.com
• Pedro Dinizdriver statistics at Racing-Reference