Vitantonio Liuzzi on his Hispania return
How does it feel to be back?
“Definitely good. Tomorrow will be the first time I’ve driven since November’s Pirelli test in Abu Dhabi. It’s a different environment, a different team, a new challenge. So I want to do a lot of mileage and I’m looking forward to seeing how it feels.”
How important is it to you to be on the F1 grid?
“I’m a driver, I love to race. And it’s difficult to stay away from the race and the grid. But you have to find the best environment for yourself. I think the plans in this team are good and they can make a step forward. Williams always does everything 100 percent and their gearbox is one of the smallest and lightest. Last year when I fought with Williams you could see that the Cosworth was a really competitive engine too.”
Did you have other options such as DTM?
“Not really. There were rumours but I didn’t personally speak with any of the teams. I’ve always been fully involved in F1 and I had talks with a few teams. I still don’t feel out of it – even if everything with Force India happened really late and a race seat is difficult to find. Now I’m using this chance to be back and we will see. I have to get to know the team, the team has to get to know me. Then next week we will talk.”
What did you make of the clamour to get you back into the sport when you parted ways with Force India?
“Of course I was happy that a lot of people in the paddock who know this business realise and understand what my potential is. But not everyone agrees. We know that F1 is a difficult business – where there is sport, politics, all these other things, and we have to be strong in all these parts. At the moment my biggest strength is the sporting side, not the others. But I’ll keep fighting and hope to get a winning car in the future.”
How did you feel when Robert Kubica said you would have been his choice as substitute for the Renault seat?
“It was a great feeling because all the drivers in the paddock know what each other’s level is. And fortunately from the driving side I’ve always had big support. But F1 is a business where it’s not just the skill, it’s a lot of other things, and we have to accept it. Robert has been great to me – and I just hope that he can recover as soon as possible and get back in that seat because he deserves it.”