Singapore GP Preview with Tonio Liuzzi
The Singapore Grand Prix from 25 – 27 September will be the next stop on the F1 calendar for the Force India Formula One Team and the first in a sequence of four flyaway races that culminates with the season finale in Abu Dhabi. The team heads to this event eager to add to its points total following on from its first podium finish in Spa and a fourth place finish at the Italian Grand Prix two weeks ago.
Q: You had a great weekend in Monza, although sadly it ended in retirement. How would you sum up your feelings about your comeback race?
VL: “Of course, it was not easy going into the weekend with very little testing, but the support I had from the team and belief from them helped me to feel comfortable. From Friday onwards I didn’t want to exaggerate, trying to learn everything about the car in two corners. I think we did the right step forward, lap after lap, run by run. Our target was to get a good Q2 position and then try to score points in the race, or get into the top 10. After that it went so well that we finished seventh in Q3, which was more than expected. And in the race it was awesome. When you come back after over a year and a half anything can happen, but I think we had a really strong race until the point when we stopped.”
Q: Do you feel you can improve on your performance this weekend?
VL: “I don’t think I’m yet at the pace where I was two years ago, when I was completely confident about the car. I think there is still a lot to come. It was a big shame for the team that we couldn’t score points in Monza, but I feel happy because fortunately I saw that once the car is fast and competitive I can give a good performance and I can fight with the big guys in the World Championship.”
Q: You can probably drive around Monza with your eyes closed, but will things be harder in Singapore?
VL: “I don’t know about with my eyes closed, as it was only the fourth time I raced at Monza. I started my racing career in Germany, so I didn’t do my scholarship in Italy! For sure Singapore will be much tougher. We’ve been working in the simulator to get to know it better, but it will be a much tougher event. We’ll have to see how the car is there because it’s a completely different circuit, with really high downforce, so everything can change.”