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Zsolt Baumgartner (born January 1, 1981, Debrecen, Hungary) is a Formula One racing driver currently in the employ of the Minardi team. He hails from Budapest and is the first Hungarian driver in Formula One. He made his race debut at the 2003 Hungarian Grand Prix, substituting for the injured Ralph Firman in the Jordan team; he also took part in the Italian Grand Prix that year.

Plans were made for Zsolt to drive for Jordan in 2004 with sponsorship from oil company Mol Rt. However, Zsolt failed to agree terms with Jordan, forcing him to sign with Minardi instead. This caused Mol Rt. to decrease its sponsorship amount, leading Zsolt and his management to set up a "Zsolt Baumgartner Supporter's Club", a plan similar to that employed by Justin Wilson in 2003.

Zsolt failed to distinguish himself in the early part of the 2004 Formula One season; however, after two near-misses (9th in MonacoThe principality of Monaco holds one of the oldest races on the Formula One automobile racing circuit. The Monaco Grand Prix held there annually, was first organized by Antony Noghes, a well-to-do cigarette manufacturer and a resident of Monte Carlo, unde and 10th in CanadaThe Canadian Grand Prix (known in its native French as the Grand Prix du Canada) is a Formula One auto race held in Canada since 1967. It was staged in Bowmanville, Ontario or Saint-Jovite, Quebec until 1978 when Montreal became its regular home. The firs) he managed to take Minardi's first point in over 2 years by finishing 8th in the United States Grand Prix.

Career statistics (as of 2004 Japanese Grand PrixSince its first inclusion in the Formula One Championship, the Japanese Grand Prix has become synonymous with excitement and controversy. Its traditional place at the end of the season means this event has seen a great number of Championship crowns being)

• Grands Prix started: 19
• Points: 1
• Best championship position: 24th in 2003 (currently 20th in 2004)
• Most points in one season: 1 (so far in 2004)
• Best race classification: 8th (2004 United States Grand Prix)
• Best grid position: 17th (2004 Australian, Malaysian and European Grands Prix)

External link

• Official website