Vitantonio Liuzzi will get back behind the wheel of an F1 car for the first time since leaving Force India tomorrow.
The Italian driver will test for HRT in Barcelona, the team confirmed.
team principal Colin Kolles saidL “As I always said our target is to get the best possible package.
“Tonio is a strong contender for the second seat given that he has a lot of experience in Formula One. We hope his comments and feedback will help the team to progress in the right direction”.
Liuzzi added: ??Hispania Racing is a team with potential that can grow in the future and could have a good package for the season with the new car.
“There is still a lot to do because we are starting tomorrow with the first test, but there will be a lot to come. I am sure it will be a good day and I am looking forward to the next step”.
HRT have the only vacant seat for the 2011 F1 season, alongside Narain Karthikeyan.
A spokesperson added: “Every driver that we test is being evaluated for a race seat.” Karthikeyan was the only person to drive for the team in Valencia.
2011 F1 testing
- Young Drivers Test Day 3 in pictures
- Vergne completes third day on top in Abu Dhabi
- Young Drivers Test Day 2 in pictures
- Vergne stays quickest on second day of test
- Italian F3 pair complete Ferrari test
- Jean-Eric Vergne leads first day of young drivers test
- McLaren cover least test distance with new car
- Rosberg: Mercedes are “on the up”
- Second Barcelona test day 5 in pictures
- Hamilton: reliability and pace concerns for McLaren
Image ?? Force India F1 Team
Deurmat
18th February 2011, 17:59
Best option they both have I guess…
BasCB (@bascb)
18th February 2011, 18:08
Looks like Liuzzi is looking forward to it. At least he will know, how the team operates and he will have seen something from Narain driving.
But without even having seen the new car, I guess it is hard to say weather this is a good road for Liuzzi. Going with a team with very little ressources and experience, no factory and no solid development team, what will it do for his career?
And how much cash will he have to bring to the table?
I would love it if Wills actually brings a solid car to the track at the first race (still some time then, what with not going to Bahrain) and we see Liuzzi finally showing why he was hot material in the feeder series. But don’t count on it.
Solo (@solo)
18th February 2011, 23:49
His career was dead anyway so he doesn’t have to worry if HRT is bad for his career. It can only be for the best.
Todfod
19th February 2011, 6:10
Agree with Solo. Liuzzi was not going to get a drive from any of the other teams, so why not join HRT? And finally have a season where you are kicking your teammate’s behind.
Nixon
19th February 2011, 8:15
But what if the indian guy pulls a surprise i mean he has a lot of money…
Todfod (@todfod)
19th February 2011, 8:32
I dont see how money gives you speed
Red Andy (@red-andy)
19th February 2011, 11:07
(obvious joke about amphetamines)
BasCB (@bascb)
18th February 2011, 18:16
Looks like Liuzzi had to bring his own fireproof overalls though, that does not look like any sort of team kit! http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/184960_501540166318_340030261318_6666829_601062_n.jpg
Hairs (@hairs)
18th February 2011, 18:44
Brilliant!
Aaah HRT, despite the untimely demise of USF1, we still have one hopeless team on the grid. Thank you, guys.
And good luck to Tonio and Narain driving the .. err… car that will totally, definitely, be ready for the next test, because, you know it’s ready and everything. Really.
Fixy (@)
18th February 2011, 19:17
No, I think it’s the team’s overalls. I don’t think he has many suits home…
But it’s hard to tell as Liuzzi wouldn’t have sponsors, and neither does HRT…
jsw11984 (@jarred-walmsley)
18th February 2011, 22:50
No, thats the team overalls, simple white. I believe it is a marketing ploy by them to obtain his Stigness as their driver.
Solo (@solo)
18th February 2011, 23:55
Actually i just created a company called “Cool Spot”. This way i get free F1 advertisement from HRT.
I am also waiting for approval of the companies names “Your logo here” and “This could be you”.
After that i can claim of being the main sponsor of an F1 team.
Shimks
19th February 2011, 7:23
Excellent idea!! :D
Dipak T
19th February 2011, 1:21
Lol.
Brundle: “The Stig there executing an obscene pass around the outside of Vettel to take the lead. How the hell does he do it that HRT? ”
Coulthard: “Some say hes fuelled by a burning hatred of Brazilians. And that, his real name is Cuddles”
jsw11984 (@jarred-walmsley)
19th February 2011, 18:56
Or,
Brundle: And we’re off for the 2011 Australian grand prix, the big excitement for this race of course is the signing of the Stig to HRT. And here he comes now barreling through the corners, he’s made up so much ground already. Currently he’s in 11th place behind Ruebens Barichello, and… oh my word he’s off the Stig’s off spearing straight into Ruebens Barichello. Thats them both out, obviously the Stig’s revenge for Ruebens beating his brother round the Top Gear test track.
Dan Newton
18th February 2011, 18:35
He’s still got a foot in the (F1) door. Which is more than quite a few other (ex) drivers can say.
Meander
18th February 2011, 18:39
“Potential that can grow in the future…”
Brilliant! There is not much potential now, but it can grow :) He should get merit for that diplomatic gem.
Fixy (@)
18th February 2011, 20:00
Well, it surely can’t get any worse..
Stefanauss (@stefanauss)
18th February 2011, 20:03
It can. Can be another Super Aguri, potentially.
slr
19th February 2011, 16:35
Super Aguri had Honda supporting them. In 2007 where they regularly made it to Q2 and scored points, they had a reworked 2006 Honda.
Stefanauss (@stefanauss)
19th February 2011, 18:02
In-season withdrawal.
The New Pope
18th February 2011, 18:42
Probably would have been better off in Indy Car or DTM.
MinusTwo
18th February 2011, 19:14
I guess it is good that Liuzzi will still be around. Still, it seems sad to see anyone who was at another team driving for HRT.
It’s almost seems like that should be a punishement for doing something else wrong. Like, after that whole team orders thing, maybe they should have punished Alonso by making him drive the HRT car for the next 3 races?
PS – That was jJust a joke. Please no “team orders” or “Alonso bias” comments.
Patrickl (@patrickl)
18th February 2011, 23:05
Maybe Liuzzi deserves punishment for his poort 2010 season with FI?
Subaru_600BHP
19th February 2011, 0:03
I think people are too pessamistic about HRT, teams and companies can turn things around with the help of new people. If budgets keep getting limited HRT will be in much better shape in the future, and the team entries have reached their limit, so HRT will always be a good investment so i think the future is brighter for them than some might think.
SeattleChris
18th February 2011, 19:15
I don’t think he’s looking forward to it, rather he is politely putting up with the station of his age and career prospects at the moment.
Sadly, there is only 24 seats and the upcoming drivers are born every year, ready, willing to take the place of an experienced driver for pay.
I believe you are right to think Indy car… or Nascar where the old F1 drivers go to make money making left-hand turns in 30 year old technology.
jsw11984 (@jarred-walmsley)
18th February 2011, 22:51
Indy Car also uses road circuts, so thats not quite right, NASCAR I agree with you on though.
Patrickl (@patrickl)
18th February 2011, 23:06
or A10, DTM or Superleague Formula
Stefanauss (@stefanauss)
18th February 2011, 19:21
I think he should stay in F1, even with a weak link like HRT probably is.
Maybe Heidfeld wouldn’t have got his seat at Renault had he stayed away one whole season, Renault would have chosen Senna instead, who knows.
I don’t see any better chance to get a better team next season than driving this season for whoever offers him a seat.
Fixy (@)
18th February 2011, 19:59
…and performing well (at least better than Karthikeyan)!
Stefanauss (@stefanauss)
18th February 2011, 20:06
Well, that’s pretty clear. It could be his F1 grave =)
graav
18th February 2011, 19:22
What about the talk of Zsolt Baumgartner driving for HRT?
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
18th February 2011, 19:56
Now I don’t rate Liuzzi particularly highly but even he is better than HRT!
However, best of luck to them both. At least they’re conducting pre-season testing this year.
Fixy (@)
18th February 2011, 19:58
Who will they test next?
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
18th February 2011, 21:09
My mum probably.
electrolite (@electrolite)
18th February 2011, 21:35
Formula 1 fail.
Tom
18th February 2011, 22:45
Another publicity stunt from a team that doesn’t even have a car for 2011. I give it about a 1/1,000,000 chance they are on the start line in Bahrain (or wherever the 1st race ends up).
Patrickl (@patrickl)
18th February 2011, 23:10
A while back there was rumour that Liuzzi was even considering paying HRT a portion of his settlement money from FI. I seriously hope this is untrue.
I’m assuming this is the end of his career (getting booted off two teams ech time only after a single full season). Driving for HRT really isn’t going to help get it rebooted.
Just take the money and go do something “fun”.
pricemoda (@pricemoda)
19th February 2011, 1:06
I dont know why but i love HRT its just their crapness i love…They just make me think
if my Grandad (god bless him) was ever to build an F1 car in his shed, with an old porch door he had pilfered
from the local skip and the insides of knackered zanussi
washing machine, he would make something close to last years HRT..Then in his role as team Princepal he would then employ my four year old sister as a payer driver for her pound a week pocket money and get my Nan to sponsor it with her pension. but saying that it would probably still go faster than it went last year, but this year is looking peachy
Shimks
19th February 2011, 7:28
:) Nice one, pricemoda.
Seriously, though, I think you’re all really underestimating Liuzzi. He’s obviously got an amazing sense of humour.
Patrickl (@patrickl)
19th February 2011, 12:18
Indeed. Look at the clothes he’s wearing.
SteveMovieVoice (@welshf1)
19th February 2011, 10:04
Right, who’s going to be test driver then, surely they are going to go for someone with money?