An interview with Vitantonio Liuzzi – meet F1’s newest star!
A smile from ear to ear in the new shiny Red Bull motorhome, flashy but still the model of hospitality, he shakes hands, goes from one to the next, always ready with a witty comment. Seeing Scott Speed – himself a member of the Red Bull Junior program – he rushes to the young American, who had just taken his first GP2 podium despite major brake problems, and offers him a spontaneous and raucous hug like a kid greeting a friend in the school yard.
Without a doubt, Vitantonio Liuzzi perfectly fits the image of the Milton Keynes’ team: young, dynamic, professional, but bringing a breath of fresh air into what can be a formal paddock at times. While I surveyed the invigorating sight of this happy driver, Kimi Raikkonen, with a determined step, rushes across the paddock towards the grey command centre of the team from Woking, impeccable and sophisticated – too much so, according to some.
The Finn barely stops to offer his youthful face to the camera lenses of awkward fans. The other stars of the moment, Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso remain invisible. Not finding the Red Bull Racing press officer, I decided to approach Vitantonio myself, bucking normal paddock procedure. After all this will be the first test of the new-found freedom of action for Christian Horner’s men…
Hi Vitantonio, can you answer a few questions for GP2005.com? I ask.
“Of course, no problem. Give me thirty minutes, I have to go get a car and I’ll be back.” First step taken!
45 minutes later, Tonio comes through the paddock gate and, seeing me, comes over apologizing:
“Sorry, it took me a bit longer, you know how it is…”
Yes I know, a native of Toulouse France, I am no longer afraid of the famous Toulouse ¼ hour late and I am in the habit of adding at least one to every half hour of paddock time estimate. That same weekend at Imola, another driver left me hanging, but eventually honoured his commitment… the next night, late… Liuzzi’s apologies are unusual for the upper crust of auto racing, but they are refreshing. Second step taken!
There was still a third, the interview. Would he hold back, scared of answering my questions without a press officer or manager by his side? I’ll leave that up to you, as I have formed my own opinion!
You seem to have a lot of fun in the paddock, we can see you jumping everywhere unlike other drivers stay who remain locked in their motorhomes…
“I am really happy to be here! I’m here to have fun; I just try to be myself when I’m in the paddock and outside the paddock. I hope that this can show a good attitude and be good for the people working in F1 like you.”
Do you think most of the people are not friendly enough in Formula One, or maybe too ‘corporate’?
“For sure, some have to look out for their business and some are not real or clever, that’s for sure. I am always in the paddock now and I think I realized from the beginning who are the bad ones and the good ones…”
(Laughing) OK, I won’t ask for any names!
(Vitantonio laughs too) “No need!”
You must love this new Red Bull motorhome, or should I call it hospitality centre, very friendly and fun…
“Don’t tell me! I’m dreaming! Since I arrived here, I spotted it far away and thought it was unbelievable what they did. This is great!”
No doubt, you fit right in there, you’re the living Red Bull spirit!
“I think Red Bull Racing is the best team, not only thanks to its young spirit and fun. They’re working hard to get results and they have great plans for the future. I think it’s great to be a part of it, the mentality is fantastic at Red Bull Racing, I love it. Since Red Bull is in the paddock, there is new life!”
What about the earring? The FIA wanted to ban all piercing but you’re still wearing it, I thought you were supposed to get rid of it!
“It’s still not clear, the situation about the earring, cause it may not be something that could create a problem. Rings and chains yes, but maybe an earring won’t be a problem after all. Do you think the FIA is going too far with stuff like that? I think it is more important to develop Formula One and to try to find solutions that could give the public more interest in the sport than to tell the drivers not to wear earrings… I think they’re worried in case of an accident, burning or something, but I think if the heat can melt your earring, well, it’s a bit too late!” (Laughs)
Is it even more special for you to race here in Imola, in front of your home fans for your very first Grand Prix?
“Of course, Imola is something unbelievable, one of the greatest tracks. I need to deliver for my fans and the public, it is great to be here for my first Grand Prix and I’m very proud of it.”
What do you think of the RB1, what are its pros and cons?
“We have a very good staff working on the car and to develop it. The car seems much better than last year and we’re working hard to improve it. We do not have the pace here in Imola, but it’s just that between Bahrain and Imola we did not have so much time to test and develop the RB1. That’s why we are not as competitive here as we were at the beginning of the season. But we’ll improve, we’re working on it and you can count on it.”
You seem to be good friends with Scott Speed. I saw you give him a huge hug earlier. Is there a special Red Bull Junior club?
“Yeah, I’m friends with everyone; we’ve known each other pretty well for a couple of years as he is also a member of the Red Bull team as a junior driver, so we got to know each other a bit more. He’s in the GP2 series this year, he’s very fast and has done great in recent years. He is a very nice guy, good fun.”
What is your goal for these first three races? To see the chequered flag, to score some points or to climb on the podium?
“To get points for sure, a podium would be great but you have to be realistic, it will be very difficult. If it happens, great, but the goal is to get points first.”
You are very aggressive on the kerbs here, as I noticed on several occasions around the track, whereas David is more, let’s say, cautious. Do you love to ride them?
“Yes! I like that, you have to find the right compromise between being aggressive but not too much. I think I went maybe a bit too wild on Saturday morning, that’s why I made some mistakes, but I did not go off the track and it’s great on such a difficult track.”
Some claim that your F3000 title was diminished by the fact the level was not what it was some years ago. What’s your response to this?
“Well, they just don’t know what they’re talking about. The thing is, at the beginning of the year, when we were testing they said it should be one of the toughest years in F3000, and then when I started to win races and races they changed their mind and pretended it was the easiest season. You know, I know you and your company are doing a great job, but no offence, some people in the paddock just don’t know what they’re talking about, they know nothing about racing, they don’t know what’s good and what’s bad and some are just looking for to publish rumours and stuff.”
Do you have a different approach now that you’re a race driver and not a test driver, who has no choice but to sit on the pit wall on Saturday and Sunday?
“Yes, I can’t party so hard! (Laughs) Joking aside, yes, it is quite different now. I am overbooked during the race weekend; I have no time to breathe on my own. Racing is much more stressful that to be ‘just’ a test driver.”
Are you more careful with the car?
“It’s not just careful, for me it is very important to get some kilometres under my belt and now that I have the chance to race it is very important to see the chequered flag. So, I’m not careful, but rather conscious of what to do and not to do.”
You are the Italian number 1 young gun, will your career go hand in hand with Red Bull or could you move around Maranello, now that Ferrari will provide engines to RBR from 2006?
“I have been linked with them for years, they have given me a lot and I want to give them a lot in the future, so I hope to go on with them but nobody knows what will happen in the near future. We heard a lot of rumours about you and Ferrari last year. What’s the truth? Well, I’m an Italian and it would be great…, we had some talks but nothing that would go ahead, just some talks, nothing really concrete.”
Would it be a dream for you, as an Italian driver and F1 driver to drive for Ferrari, or would you be torn between the Scuderia and Red Bull?
“I feel great driving for Red Bull because, as I told you before, they gave me and still give me, so much and it would be great to climb the ladder with them. But for sure, the red car is THE team. It’s been like that for so many years, and they’re the biggest part of F1 history. I think it is a dream for many drivers but I want to do great at Red Bull. Even more than now that Ferrari and Red Bull will work together. I think it’s the best chance for me.”
You are very fast on the track despite your lack of experience. But what do you think you could improve?
“It is really difficult to say because you have to improve yourself everyday. You learn everyday from somebody else…”
Sure, but I’m sure you could teach some how to ride over the kerbs! So, what part of your driving you think could be better?
“OK, let’s face it, I have to control more myself! Sometimes I let my passion go ahead… Your heart is talking big time when you’re driving! Exactly!”